Marco Rubio says Cuban institute runs "a vast subversive network in the United States"

The Trump administration announced new sanctions against Cuba on Thursday, targeting nine state-owned enterprises and leaders of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the institute of running an alleged operation to identify, groom, and indoctrinate Americans, tying the effort to recent events marking Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday. The announcement follows weekend detentions at Miami airport of U.S. citizens returning from Cuba; officials said they were briefly held and had devices seized, then released, though they could still face prosecution for violating sanctions. Cuba routinely condemns the measures as unfair pressure on a poor nation. The administration has also intensified economic penalties, including an oil blockade, deepening the island’s crisis.