Joe Biden deal: Cuba frees 127 prisoners including Opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer

Cuba frees 127 prisoners, including opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer, in landmark deal with departing U.S. President Joe Biden.

Cuba has freed 127 prisoners including Opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer in a landmark deal with departing U.S. President Joe Biden that has led to emotional reunions across the communist island.

Ferrer (54) is the most high-profile of the prisoners that Cuba began freeing on Wednesday (January 15, 2025) after Joe Biden agreed to remove the country from Washington's list of terrorism sponsors — part of an eleventh-hour bid to cement his legacy before handing power on Monday (January 20, 2025) to Donald Trump.

"Thank God we have him home," Nelva Ortega told AFP of her husband Ferrer, who has been in and out of prison for the past two decades. His latest stint lasted three-and-a-half years. Shortly after his release on Thursday (January 16, 2025), Ferrer urged Cubans on a Miami-based radio programme to "not be afraid" to stand up to a government he said he was "increasingly scared" and "increasingly weak."

In return for being removed from the U.S. terror list that includes North Korea, Iran and Syria, cash-strapped Cuba promised to release 553 people — many of whom the Joe Biden administration said were "political prisoners."

Most were arrested for taking part in mass July 2021 anti-government demonstrations over recurring power outages, food shortages and price hikes.

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Maricela Sosa, vice-president of the Supreme Court, said "between Wednesday and Thursday 127 (detainees) have been granted early release." AFP saw four prisoners emerge from the San Miguel del Padron prison on the outskirts of the capital Havana on Thursday (January 16, 2025.)