Dec 17, 2014

Cuba released Maryland aid worker Alan Gross Wednesday, and the White House announced plans to reestablish diplomatic relations with Havana and relax trade and travel restrictions, reversing more than half a century of policy aimed at isolating the communist nation 90 miles from Florida.

: Cars drive past a banner featuring five Cuban prisoners held in U.S. custody, two of whom were previously released, in Havana December 17, 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama was set to announce a shift in policy toward Cuba on Wednesday and the Associated Press reported the changes would include the opening of an embassy in Cuba and the start of talks to normalize relations. The shift in policy, which could be one of the biggest changes in decades of animosity between communist-ruled Cuba and the United States, was heralded by Cuba’s release of American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange with Havana. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba’s release of a U.S. intelligence source and the U.S. release of three Cuban intelligence agents. The banner reads, “end of injustice!”. REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa

: In this handout image provided by The White House, U.S. President Barack Obama talks with President Raúl Castro of Cuba from the Oval Office, on December 16, 2014 in Washington, DC. Obama announced plans to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, over 50 years after they were severed in January 1961. In a prisoner exchange, U.S. contractor Alan Gross was freed after being held in Cuba since 2009 and sent to Cuba three Cuban spies who had imprisoned in the U.S. since 2001. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

: Alan Gross, holding hands with his wife Judy, makes a statement to the news media at the law offices of Gilbert LLC after arriving back in the United States December 17, 2014 in Washington, DC. A United States Agency for International Develpment contractor, Gross was imprisoned in Cuba for five years on espionage charges after he delivered satellite telephone equipment to Jews living on the island. Gross’ release is signalling a new era in U.S.-Cuba relations as President Barack Obama announced a political thawing between the two countries, the first in more than 50 years. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), center, with Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), left, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), talk about their efforts to retrieve U.S. contractor Alan Gross from prison in Cuba on December 17, 2014 in Washington, DC. The three lawmakers flew to Cuba to bring Gross, held in Cuba since 2009, back to the United States. U.S. President Barack Obama announced today plans to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, over 50 years after they were severed in January 1961. (Photo by T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images)

: Alan Gross, speaks during a press conference after being released by Cuba on December 17, 2014 in Washington,DC. Gross, an American contractor jailed on the communist-ruled island since 2009, was released amid signs of an imminent thaw in ties between the Cold War foes. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: Alan Gross -with his wife, Judy, standing next to him- speaks to the press at Gilbert LLP law firm after being released from a Cuban prison. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Alan Gross embraces Tim Rieser (C, back to camera), a member of Senator Patrick Leahy’s office, on the tarmac as he disembarks from a U.S. government plane with wife Judy (L) at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland outside Washington December 17, 2014 in this photo courtesy of Jill Zuckman. The United States plans to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba more than 50 years after they were severed, a major policy shift after decades of hostile ties with the communist-ruled island, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday. Obama discussed the changes with Cuban President Raul Castro on Tuesday in a telephone call that lasted nearly an hour. Castro spoke in Cuba as Obama made his announcement on a policy shift made possible by the release of American Alan Gross, 65, who had been imprisoned in Cuba for five years. REUTERS/Jill Zuckman/Gross Family spokesperson/Handout via Reuters

: Alan and Judy Gross arrive for a news conference in Washington December 17, 2014, after Cuba released Alan Gross after five years in prison. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

: Alan Gross smiles while addressing a news conference in Washington hours after his release from Cuba on December 17, 2014. Cuba released Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

: Alan Gross and his wife Judy hold hands during a news conference in Washington hours after Alan’s release from Cuba on December 17, 2014. Cuba released Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

: Alan Gross holds hands with his wife Judy while addressing a news conference in Washington hours after his release from Cuba on December 17, 2014. Cuba released Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

: Alan Gross and his wife Judy face a news conference in Washington hours after his release from Cuba on December 17, 2014. Cuba released Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

: A van in a convoy of government vehicles leaves Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, December 17, 2014. US contractor Alan Gross departed Cuba on a US government plane and landed at the military base earlier today. The United States and Cuba made a historic breakthrough in their Cold War stand-off December 17, 2014, moving to revive diplomatic ties and ease a five-decade US trade embargo against its communist foe. In the wake of a prisoner exchange, US officials said President Barack Obama was ready to negotiate terms for re-opening the American embassy in Cuba that has been closed since 1961. (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

: The plane that carried American prisoner Alan Gross, who was held in a Cuban prison for more than five years, to the United States sits on a tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland December 17, 2014. REUTERS/Evan Vucci/Pool

: U.S. aid contractor Alan Gross (L) is escorted by Cuban security agents to court during his ongoing trial in Havana in this March 5, 2011 file photo. Alan Gross, the ailing U.S. aid worker held in Cuba for five years, was to land in the United States at noon on Wednesday, a senior U.S. congressional aide said. Picture taken March 5, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer/Files

: Journalists wait outside Air Force Joint Base Andrews in Prince Georges County December 17, 2014 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Gross, who has been in prison in Cuba for the last five years on espionage charges, has been released and is due to arrive at the base, possibly heralding a new era in U.S.-Cuba relations. American officials have said they will restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba and open an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half-century. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

: A car drives past the building of the the U.S. diplomatic mission in Cuba, The U.S. Interests Section, (USINT), in Havana, in this September 12, 2013 file picture. Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange with Havana that the United States said on Wednesday heralds an overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan/Files

: A woman walks near a car in front of a banner featuring five Cuban prisoners held in U.S. custody, two of whom were previously released, in Havana December 17, 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama was set to announce a shift in policy toward Cuba on Wednesday and the Associated Press reported the changes would include the opening of an embassy in Cuba and the start of talks to normalize relations. The shift in policy, which could be one of the biggest changes in decades of animosity between communist-ruled Cuba and the United States, was heralded by Cuba’s release of American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange with Havana. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba’s release of a U.S. intelligence source and the U.S. release of three Cuban intelligence agents. The banner reads, “end of injustice!”. REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa

: American aid worker Alan Gross (3rd R) disembarks with his wife Judy (4th L) from a U.S. government plane as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland outside Washington December 17, 2014 in this photo tweeted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ). U.S. President Barack Obama was set to announce a shift in policy toward Cuba on Wednesday and the Associated Press reported the changes would include the opening of an embassy in Cuba and the start of talks to normalize relations. REUTERS/Courtesy the office of Arizona Senator Jeff Flake/Handout

: U.S. President Barack Obama announces a shift in policy toward Cuba while delivering an address to the nation from the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, December 17, 2014.The shift in policy follows Cuba’s release of American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange with Havana. REUTERS/Doug Mills/Pool

: Jailed U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contractor Alan Gross, (R), poses for a picture during a visit with Cuban Jewish Community leader Adela Dworin, (C), and David Prinstein, Vice President, at Havana’s Carlos J Finlay Military Hospital in this September 28, 2012 file photo. Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. REUTERS/Handout

: Judy Gross, wife of U.S. aid contractor Alan Gross who is jailed in Cuba, shows their family picture during an interview with Reuters at her apartment in Washington in this file image from October 23, 2010. Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on December 17, 2014. Cuba arrested Gross, now 65, on December. 3, 2009, and later convicted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) subcontractor to 15 years in prison for importing banned technology and trying to establish clandestine internet service for Cuban Jews. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/Files

: A mural showing the five Cuban agents arrested by the United States in 2001 is seen in front of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana in a June 18, 2009 file photo. Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison in a reported prisoner exchange with Havana that the United States said on Wednesday heralds an overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. A U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa

: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry walks across the tarmac after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base to meet with released American prisoner Alan Gross, who was held in a Cuban prison for more than five years, in Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland December 17, 2014. REUTERS/Evan Vucci/Pool

: American aid worker Alan Gross (R) speaks with his wife Judy shortly before leaving Havana on December 17, 2014 in this photo tweeted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ). U.S. President Barack Obama was set to announce a shift in policy toward Cuba on Wednesday and the Associated Press reported the changes would include the opening of an embassy in Cuba and the start of talks to normalize relations. REUTERS/Courtesy the office of Arizona Senator Jeff Flake/Handout

: Florida Governor Rick Scott (L) and Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush hand out items for Holiday Food Baskets to those in need outside the Little Havana offices of CAMACOL, the Latin American Chamber of Commerce on December 17, 2014 in Miami, Florida. Both governors reacted as they gave out food to the annoucement that the United States and Cuba worked out a deal for the release of USAID subcontractor Alan Gross. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

: Osvaldo Hernadez, Miguel Saavedra and Carlos Munoz Fontanillehas (L-R) react to the news, outside the Little Havana restaurant Versailles, that Alan Gross was released from a Cuban prison on December 17, 2014 in Miami, United States. Alan Gross, the American contractor had spent five years in Cuban jail and reports indicate he is on his way back to the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

: Vehicle traffic goes in and out of the U.S. Air Force Joint Base Andrews in Prince Georges County December 17, 2014 in Joint Base Andrews, United States. U.S. Agency for International Development contractor Alan Gross, who has been in prison in Cuba for the last five years on espionage charges, has been released and is due to arrive at the base, possibly heralding a new era in U.S.-Cuba relations. American officials have said they will restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba and open an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half-century. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

: Two government vehicles, possibly with U.S. Agency for International Development contractor Alan Gross on board leave Air Force Joint Base Andrews in Prince Georges County December 17, 2014 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Gross, who has been in prison in Cuba for the last five years on espionage charges, has been released and is due to arrive at the base, possibly heralding a new era in U.S.-Cuba relations. American officials have said they will restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba and open an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half-century. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A homecoming for Alan Gross

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