Two Democrats from the US House of Representatives, Pramila Jayapal and Jonathan Jackson, visited Cuba last week, the first delegation to visit the island since President Donald Trump imposed a de facto oil blockade in a bid to bring Cuba's communist-run government to its knees. The lawmakers expressed their concern over the suffering caused by the fuel embargo, which they called "an illegal blockade of energy supplies". They also expressed a desire for a real negotiation about what needs to happen to change the situation. The five-day trip included meetings with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuban lawmakers, and top officials at Cuba's foreign ministry. The representatives pledged to continue pushing for bills that ensure the U.S. does not go to war with Cuba and for the lifting of sanctions that they believe are ineffective.