A former official of Cuba's Communist Party last week entered the United States with plans to retire. Him being allowed to do so has enraged Florida Republicans, who sent a letter to the Biden administration questioning how he was even authorized to enter the country.
The main in question is Manuel Menendez Castellanos, who according to Cuban outlets was a secretary in the party and close to Fidel Castro. The letter was addressed at Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It was signed by Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and Maríia Elvira Salazar, as well as Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.
It urges them to investigate why he was allowed to enter the country, noting that federal laws generally prevent members of foreign "totalitarian parties " to immigrate. "Any immigrant who is or has been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party (or subdivision or affiliate thereof), domestic or foreign, is inadmissible," the letter recalls.
"Given this prohibition in U.S. law, it would seem likely to us that a high-level, longtime Cuban Communist Party member and agent of that brutal dictatorship would be inadmissible for U.S. entry," the letter adds.
It goes on to say that the signatories are "outraged that an individual with a role in suppressing the Cuban people for decades was permitted the extraordinary privilege of U.S. entry so that he could spend his retirement in freedom and comfort." And request the officials to "assess whether the law was followed in this case and if not, what actions will be taken to ensure that high-level Cuban Communist Party operatives are found to be inadmissible according to law."
Florida Republicans introduced in July legislation aimed at banning states considered to be sponsors of terrorism from accessing TSA areas, following generalized uproar in the state due to a visit from Cuban officials to Miami International Airport.
The bill was introduced by Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Carlos Giménez, with the latter calling the visit by Cuban officials a "direct slap in the face to the Cuban exile community here in Miami-Dade County."
The bill seeks to prevent any such visits from taking place again. Giménez, former Miami mayor and chair of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on transportation and maritime security, blamed President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for the visit, saying they "granted agents of the Castro regime access to our sensitive TSA facilities at Miami International Airport."
Officials from the Caribbean country were granted access by federal agencies to inspect a TSA checkpoint and baggage screening area at the airport in mid-May.
As reported by Axios, MIA director Ralph Cutie said the federal agencies did not inform him or Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava about the tour, adding that "as a Cuban American and native Miamian, I'm appalled that this took place."
She later added that "the agencies apologized and committed to changing their protocols to ensure we are informed before any other foreign delegations tour our airport."
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