Jimmy Carter travels to Cuba

Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in Cuba on Monday and reportedly could meet with officials about an American citizen in Cuban custody. 

Carter will stay on the communist island nation for three days on a “private, non-governmental mission,” according to the Carter
Center. But media reports indicated he could discuss the imprisoned American and meet with Cuban dissidents. 

{mosads}The 39th president and his wife Rosalynn made the trip, “at the invitation of the Cuban government,” according to a statement. “They will meet with President Raul Castro and other Cuban officials and citizens to learn about new economic policies and the upcoming Party Congress, and to discuss ways to improve U.S.-Cuba relations.”

The visit comes more than two weeks after Alan Gross, a subcontractor for USAID, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after illegally bringing computer equipment there as part of a U.S. pro-democracy program.

“Today’s sentencing adds another injustice to Alan Gross’s ordeal,” National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said at the time. “He has already spent too many days in detention and should not spend one more. We urge the immediate release of Mr. Gross so that he can return home to his wife and family.”

Carter visited North Korea, another country unfriendly toward the U.S., in August to help free an American citizen jailed there for crossing into the country from China.

The former president has another visit to North Korea in the works as a private citizen, ABC News reported last week.