Cuban-American Congressman Carlos Giménez has pledged to identify and deport Cuban regime enforcers who have recently entered the United States and are living in the country. “If you are a Cuban regime enforcer living in the United States, we will identify you and you will be deported back to Cuba for committing immigration fraud. It is UNACCEPTABLE that the Biden-Harris Administration is allowing agents of the regime that murder our people to stay here,” the Republican declared in a tweet.
Giménez participated in a press conference held in Miami by the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC), where the presence of at least 117 alleged enforcers of the Cuban regime who have emigrated to the United States in recent years was denounced.
Supported by their investigations, the FHRC asserts that many enforcers of the Cuban regime have arrived and quietly blended into American society, highlighting the urgent need to address this issue. Rolando Cartaya, a former Cuban political prisoner and the director of the FHRC’s Cuban Enforcers program, explained to Telemundo 51 that his team has gathered detailed information on these individuals thanks to victim reports identifying their alleged enforcers.
“If people want to take this to court, they can write a sworn statement before a notary, send it to us, and we will forward it to the FBI and DHS,” stated Cartaya, noting that official investigations have been conducted on several reported individuals.
Since February 2023, the FHRC has revealed the identities of 20 enforcers residing in the United States, but the number has significantly increased to 117 individuals to date. The FHRC report reveals that most verified cases involve individuals who left Cuba in recent years, either by crossing borders or through regular means.
In statements to the mentioned media, Cuban lawyer Santiago Alpízar, who collaborates with the organization Cuba Demanda on these investigations, pointed out that “the U.S. government has all the resources. What is lacking here is the administrative or political will to enforce the law.”
In response to these allegations, Congressman Carlos Giménez promised to hand over the list of individuals identified by the FHRC to the responsible agencies. Furthermore, Giménez aims to have Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas appear before a congressional committee to explain how these individuals managed to enter the United States, denouncing a possible “massive fraud.”
The issue has gained traction on social media and alternative media outlets, with numerous reports from Cubans claiming to know enforcers who have emigrated to the United States. One of the most recent and controversial cases involves former communist leader Manuel Menéndez Castellanos, who arrived in Miami by air, allegedly through a family reunification process.
The case of Melody González Pedraza, a former Cuban judge and former member of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), also sparked controversy. Despite arriving in the United States under the humanitarian parole program, her entry was denied due to her PCC affiliation, leading her to seek political asylum.
Other former Cuban regime officials, such as Rosabel Roca Sampedro, who called for prison sentences for 11J protesters, and Arelys Casañola Quintana, former president of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in the Isla de la Juventud, have also tried to settle in the U.S., sparking debate over the arrival of regime enforcers in the country.
This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of immigration controls and the political will to prevent individuals linked to human rights violations in Cuba from establishing themselves in the United States. In mid-May, the Biden Administration announced significant changes in asylum policy that could affect enforcers from authoritarian regimes in countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
According to experts consulted by Martí Noticias, these new measures will restrict the entry to the U.S. of individuals with criminal records or those who have participated in repressive activities.
Key Questions About Cuban Regime Enforcers in the U.S.
In light of the recent revelations about Cuban regime enforcers living in the United States, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to provide further insight into this issue.
How many Cuban regime enforcers have been identified in the United States?
As of now, the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba has identified 117 individuals who are believed to be enforcers of the Cuban regime living in the United States.
What actions are being taken against these individuals?
Congressman Carlos Giménez has pledged to identify these individuals and ensure their deportation to Cuba for committing immigration fraud. Additionally, he aims to have DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas explain how these individuals managed to enter the U.S.
What role does the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba play in this matter?
The FHRC has been actively investigating and identifying Cuban regime enforcers living in the U.S., compiling information based on victim reports and forwarding the data to authorities like the FBI and DHS.
What changes has the Biden Administration made to asylum policy?
The Biden Administration announced changes in mid-May that will restrict the entry of individuals with criminal records or those who have participated in repressive activities from authoritarian regimes, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.