Ferrer told Payá he was concerned about the fate of other opposition members who were still imprisoned and that the Cuban government was playing both the Biden administration and the Vatican by using the prisoners to get political concessions.

On Tuesday, the White House said it had taken Cuba off the list of countries that sponsor terrorism and lifted sanctions on Cuban military companies to facilitate a deal brokered by the Vatican with the Cuban government to release political prisoners. The Cuban government said it would release 553 prisoners as a gesture to Pope Francis.