President Donald trump announced a rollback in Obama-era Cuba policies at a rally in Little Havana, Miami Friday afternoon.
"In an extremely packed and very warm auditorium," Trump said he was "canceling the last administration's completely one-sided deal with Cuba."
Trump began his speech by praising himself and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for getting Otto Warmbier, the American student imprisoned in North Korea, back to his family in Ohio.
He spoke on the condition of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), who was critically injured by a gunman Wednesday.
"He's having a hard time, far worse than anybody thought," Trump said.
Trump on Castro
"Last year I promised to be a voice against repression in our region," Trump said, "and a voice for the freedom of the Cuban people."
Trump denounced the Castro regime, and promised that his "administration would not hide from it, excuse it, or glamorize it."
He demanded the regime to "stop jailing innocent people," and stop harboring fugitives and criminals. Trump emphasized the release of Joanne Chesimard to US custody. Chesimard killed a New Jersey Police Officer, escaped from jail, and fled to Cuba, according to the FBI.
Changes in US-Cuba Policy
The two major changes unveiled in Trump's new policy are preventing US companies from doing business with the Cuban Military and enforcing who can travel to Cuba.
"We will take concrete steps to ensure investments flow directly to the people," rather than the Castro regime or military, Trump said in his speech Friday.
Cruises and flights from the US to Cuba will continue, according to CNN, but tourists will be restricted from entering Cuba. Only "heavily regulated" tour groups will be allowed to travel from the US to Cuba, ABC News reported.
Trump criticized former President Barack Obama's policy of not helping Cubans. "The previous administration's easing of restrictions on travel and trade does not help the Cuban people," Trump said, "they only enrich the Cuban regime."
The new embassies in Washington and Havana will remain open, and restrictions on goods will stay the same.
Cuban cigars and rum will still be allowed to enter the US, according to CNN.
US-Cuban Solidarity
Trump's speech vowed to protect Cubans and Cuban-Americans, especially those persecuted by the Castro regime.
"We will respect Cuban sovereignty," he said, "but we will never turn our backs on the Cuban people. That will not happen."
In opposition to his stance on refugees fleeing persecution from the Middle East, Trump said, "America will always stand for liberty and America will always pray and cheer for the Cuban people."
Trump concluded his speech in solidarity with the Cuban people, "May God bless everyone searching for freedom, may God bless Cuba, may God bless the United States of America."
