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About this at the vatican in the fall. and while the prospect of diplomatic relations with the castro regime remains controversial many cuban americans are welcoming this breakthrough. >> the embargo and not having negotiations with cuba have only hurt the cuban people, unfortunately. this is absolutely great. i'm ecstatic. i have called everyone on my contacts. this is the best news that i have heard in my entire life. >> that's one heartfelt opinion there, but that opinion not shared by some of the cuban americans that serve in congress including democratic senator bob menendez of new jersey...

The white house in my lifetime, who has basically given the cuban government everything it asked for and received no assurances of any advances in democracy and freedom in return. >> the castros are the ones who have decided to be brutal, repressive dictators. and we should not be taking blame for the fact that we responded to their active acts of war and hostility, they are a leading state sponsor of terrorism, and just like president obama did with russia, just like president obama did with iran, he does not understand the difference between our friends and our enemies. >> jeb bush also was ...

Breakthrough. >> the embargo and not having negotiations with cuba have only hurt the cuban people, unfortunately. this is absolutely great. i'm ecstatic. i have called everyone on my contacts. this is the best news that i have heard in my entire life. >> that's one heartfelt opinion there, but that opinion not shared by some of the cuban americans that serve in congress including democratic senator bob menendez of new jersey and republican ted cruz of texas and florida senator marco rubio. they strongly contend the administration's shift in policy. >> this president is the single-worst negoti...

Cuban government everything it's asked for and received no assurances of any advances of democracy and freedom in return. >> i think our policy has done more to keep the castros in power than anything. 50 years is long enough. we ought to do this and do whatever we can so ordinary cuba cubans might benefit. allow more americans to travel, more commerce, more contact. this is a good thing. >> so opponents of the president's plan like marco rubio say they will do everything to block the policy. they could refuse funding for the u.s. embassy in havana or block the nomination for the u.s. ambassad...

Democracy and freedom in return. >> chris van hollen from maryland joins me now. good evening to you. >> good evening, ari. >> we're just looking at that picture of you guys all together on a historic day, a bipartisan gathering. walk us through what you did, what led up to this. >> well, it was a great day. you know, for the last five years that alan gross was in prison, lots of people have been working hard to secure his release, none more so than his wife judy. and there have been lots of ups and downs over those five years but over the last couple weeks, it appeared that an agreement was b...