USCIRF Welcomes Secretary Rubio’s Confirmation, Calls for Religious Freedom Designations

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the unanimous bipartisan confirmation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led efforts to advance religious freedom abroad in the United States Senate. Considering outgoing Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken did not make Country of Particular Concern (CPC), Special Watch List (SWL), and Entity of Particular Concern (EPC) designations under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), the Commission also calls on Secretary Rubio to quickly review USCIRF’s 2024 recommendations of countries and entities that engage in or tolerate particularly severe or severe violations of religious freedom as a human right and issue those designations.

“As senator, Secretary Rubio was a champion for international religious freedom,” said USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck. “Not only was he the Senate sponsor of USCIRF’s bipartisan reauthorization in 2024, but he also worked tirelessly to confront global violations of this fundamental human right for people of every belief and everywhere in the world, especially in China, Nicaragua, and Cuba.”

“Unfortunately, former Secretary Blinken failed to make country and entity designations as required by the International Religious Freedom Act,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Eric Ueland. “The responsibility to make designations for 2024 now falls to Secretary Rubio. We look forward to working with him on this and other important international religious freedom policies going forward.”

During his tenure in the Senate, Secretary Rubio led on bipartisan pieces of legislation such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and multiple acts over the years to reauthorize USCIRF. His commitment to addressing human rights made Secretary Rubio a notable leader related to advancing religious freedom abroad.

In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended designations for countries and entities as CPCs, SWLs, and EPCs. Under IRFA, the President is required to make these designations but the responsibility has been delegated to the Secretary of State. Under the law, the designations are required within 90 days of the release of the State Department’s annual International Religious Freedom Report. Then Secretary of State Blinken did not make such designations before the change in Administration on January 20, 2025.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

USCIRF Welcomes Release of Wrongfully Imprisoned Religious Leaders and Adherents in Cuba

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the release of Cuban Santería practitioners Donaida Pérez Paseiro and Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac as well as Christian Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo. The Cuban government had wrongfully imprisoned the three alongside hundreds of peaceful protesters for participating in the July 11, 2021 demonstrations for greater freedom on the island. USCIRF has highlighted their cases in hearings and publications since their arrests in 2021.

“While we are relieved that Donaida, Lisdiani, and Lorenzo have been released, we know that they will continue to face challenges because of their unjust incarceration,” said USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson. “We stand with them and their families and extend our sincere gratitude to all who tirelessly advocate on their behalf.”

As USCIRF has continuously reported, Cuba’s repressive legal framework harshly punishes religious activities and expressions that the regime perceives to be out of step with its governing ideology. It also arbitrarily denies legal registration to religious organizations that exist outside of regime control such as the Free Yoruba Association of Cuba, and criminalizes membership or association with them. The Cuban Department of State Security, the National Revolutionary Police, and the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, among others, enforce these repressive laws through surveillance, harassment and threats, fines, imprisonments, and torture.

“USCIRF continues to call for the release of all Cuban religious leaders wrongfully imprisoned for participating in the July 11, 2021 protests, such as Loreto Hernández García,” said USCIRF Commissioner Susie Gelman. “We urge the U.S. Department of State to make clear to the Cuban authorities that those who remain wrongfully imprisoned must be released and to remain vigilant to confront any future harassment, intimidation, or detention by the Cuban government.”

In its 2024 annual report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate Cuba as a “Country of Particular Concern” for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].