Hundreds more Cuban dissidents are expected to be released in the coming days in a deal with President Biden, but even a top beneficiary is balking.

Cuba on Wednesday began releasing prisoners jailed following anti-government protests in 2021, making good on a deal with the Catholic Church that prompted the Biden administration to say it would loosen sanctions on the communist-run nation.

The action is part of a deal worked out with help from the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.

President-elect Donald Trump designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism shortly before he left office in January 2021.

The decision is likely to be reversed by the incoming Trump administration. Sen. Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state whose family fled Cuba in the 1950s, supports strong sanctions on Havana's Communist regime.

Ted Cruz and Rick Scott reacted angrily to news that the president plans to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

President Joe Biden notified Congress of his intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday is expected to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to U.S. officials familiar with matter. The officials were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity to discuss the yet to be publicly announced move.

President Biden will remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, U.S. officials announced on Tuesday, as a part of a deal that is expected to free protesters jailed during a sweeping 2021 crackdown on dissent by the Communist government.

The Biden administration removed Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism on Tuesday, prompting Cuba to release hundreds of political prisoners.