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The congressman Carlos A. Giménez recently visited the island for the first time in 64 years since leaving the country.
His trip, which took place on March 7, was to the Guantánamo Naval Base, where he arrived as part of a delegation from the United States Congress.
During his visit, Giménez affirmed that being in Guantánamo meant being in “the only free part of Cuba.”
“For the first time in 64 years, I was able to visit the country where I was born. I feel deeply honored to represent our community in Congress and to have been in the only liberated part of Cuba: Guantánamo Bay”, he stated in an official statement released after his trip.
A return filled with emotions and memories
The congressman, who left Cuba in November 1960 with his parents and sister when he was only six years old, stated that the experience of returning to Cuban soil had intensified his desire to see Cuba free from what he described as the " communist tyranny" established after 1959.
“I have always wanted to see a free Cuba, but now I made a promise that I will not return until the entire island is free. This visit gave me even more determination to keep working towards that”, Giménez stated in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.
During the flight to Guantánamo, the legislator recounted how it awakened childhood memories that remain as small fragments in his mind.
"I realized that it was the first time in almost 65 years that I had seen the island, how beautiful it is. It is a very special place, and that a group of thugs, dictators, and oppressors has ruined it initially made me feel emotional, but that then turned into anger," he expressed.
Giménez indicated that his family came from the eastern part of the country, where he spent part of his childhood, specifically in Manzanillo, just a few dozen miles from the Guantánamo Naval Base.
A visit with strategic objectives
Giménez arrived at the Guantanamo Naval Base as part of a delegation led by Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
The main objective of their trip was to assess the facilities intended for irregular migrants and hold meetings with officials responsible for security at the Base.
This is in line with the recent measures adopted by the administration of President Donald Trump to move there alleged "violent criminals" who entered the United States illegally.
"As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I was able to witness firsthand the rapid progress that President Trump has made in transforming Guantanamo into a key location for the repatriation of violent criminals to their countries of origin," Giménez stated.
Conditions of the Base and Relations with Cuba
The congressman also referred to the specific conditions of isolation that exist between the Naval Base and the rest of the archipelago, which include a dangerous border zone with hundreds of thousands of mines laid by the Cuban regime to prevent passage between the two areas.
In that context, the representative clarified that the meetings between Cuban and American authorities in that region do not take place for diplomatic purposes, but exclusively for operational matters of the Base, although such meetings have ceased in recent months.
During the visit, the delegation also learned about the situation of approximately 40 Cuban workers who, since 1966, chose to remain at the Base and not return to Caimanera. Now, many of them, already of advanced age, stay there under special care.
A renewed commitment to the Cuban cause
Giménez reiterated his commitment to continue collaborating closely with former President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Cuban exile community, and activists on the island, with the clear goal of ending the Castro regime.
“Now is the time. We have all the pieces in place to act more swiftly towards a democratic Cuba. It is a matter of will, and I certainly have that will,” emphasized the legislator.
Carlos Giménez currently represents Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys, and he holds significant positions on several committees, including the chairmanship of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee, in addition to his active participation in the Armed Services Committee.
Frequently asked questions about Carlos Giménez's visit to Cuba and the political situation
Why does Carlos Giménez assert that Guantánamo is the "only free part" of Cuba?
Carlos Giménez considers that the Guantanamo Naval Base is the "only free part" of Cuba because it is under American control and not under the Cuban regime, which he describes as "communist tyranny." During his visit, he emphasized that this area represents a space freed from the influence of the Cuban government.
What was the purpose of Carlos Giménez's visit to Guantánamo?
The main purpose of Carlos Giménez's visit to Guantánamo was to assess the facilities designated for irregular migrants and hold meetings with officials in charge of security at the Naval Base. This is part of the Trump administration's measures to use Guantánamo as a key point for the repatriation of violent criminals to their countries of origin.
What do other Cuban-American politicians think about the Cuban regime?
Cuban-American politicians like Marco Rubio and Carlos Giménez maintain a critical stance towards the Cuban regime. Rubio has stated that he would only travel to Cuba to discuss the end of the regime, and Giménez has reiterated that the regime's days are numbered. Both criticize the repression and lies of the Cuban government and advocate for a democratic and free Cuba.
What are the conditions between the Guantanamo Naval Base and the rest of Cuba?
The Guantanamo Naval Base is isolated from the rest of Cuba by a dangerous border zone filled with hundreds of thousands of mines placed by the Cuban regime to prevent passage between the two areas. Meetings between Cuban and American authorities in that region are exclusively for operational matters concerning the Base, and do not have diplomatic purposes.
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