U.S. Senator Bob Menendez joined former Cuban political prisoners and New Jersey law enforcement in decrying President Obama’s planned trip to Cuba, citing continued human rights abuses and the regime’s harboring of U.S. fugitives like Joanne Chesimard, convicted of murdering a New Jersey State Trooper.  The senator made his remarks at the Union of Cuban Ex-Political Prisoners in Union City, N.J.

“It is totally unacceptable for the President of the United States to reward a dictatorial regime with an historic visit when human rights abuses endure and democracy continues to be shunned," Menendez said. "As our President plans this trip with expectations that the world will watch and cheer, I remain of the belief that until the Cuban people are given the freedoms and liberties they deserve, eased relations should not be cheered."

On Thursday morning President Obama announced his plans to visit Cuba through his Twitter account. He will be the first sitting U.S. President to visit the island in 88 years.

"14 months ago, I announced that we would begin normalizing relations with Cuba - and we've already made significant progress," he tweeted. "Our flag flies over our Embassy in Havana once again. More Americans are traveling to Cuba than at any time in the last 50 years."

Next month, I'll travel to Cuba to advance our progress and efforts that can improve the lives of the Cuban people.

— President Obama (@POTUS) February 18, 2016