New revelations have emerged regarding the arrest of Tomás Emilio Hernández Cruz, a former officer of the General Intelligence Directorate (DGI) of Cuba, recently detained in Florida by immigration authorities.
Hernández Cruz, who fraudulently obtained U.S. residency by concealing his past as a spy and a member of the Communist Party of Cuba, is currently in custody at the Krome Detention Center, facing deportation proceedings.
Enrique García, a former Cuban intelligence officer who defected over three decades ago, stated that he met Hernández Cruz during his training at a KGB spy academy in Moscow.
According to García, who spoke with Juan Manuel Cao on the show “A Fondo” from América TeVé, both were part of a group of 28 officers who received specialized training in the Soviet Union, where Hernández Cruz operated under the pseudonym René Cruz, learning advanced espionage techniques and information manipulation.
García highlighted that the DGI has been involved in espionage operations that pose a threat to U.S. national security, mentioning emblematic cases such as Ana Belén Montes, a former Pentagon analyst convicted of spying for Cuba, and Víctor Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. diplomat arrested in December 2023 for working undercover for the Cuban regime.
UN ALTO NIVEL DE ACCESO EN LA INTELIGENCIA CUBANA
Hernández Cruz worked in the United States and Canada Department, one of the most strategic areas within Cuban intelligence.
According to García, this department handled such sensitive information that the reports in Havana were delivered directly to Fidel Castro, bypassing the Minister of the Interior.
This detail suggests that Hernández Cruz had access to highly valuable information regarding espionage operations and possible infiltrated agents in key institutions of the United States.
The trajectory of the detainee in Cuban intelligence began around 1978, when he was directly recruited by Orlando Prendes, who was then the second chief of Cuban intelligence and head of the Department of the United States and Canada.
Before entering the secret services, Hernández Cruz worked as the principal of a rural high school, where he began connections with Prendes' son, which facilitated his entry into the DGI.
A RETIRED SPY OR AN ACTIVE THREAT?
The arrest of Hernández Cruz has sparked speculation about his true purpose in the United States. While some believe he came to "enjoy his retirement" in the country, others fear that he may have continued to secretly collaborate with Cuban intelligence.
García emphasized that the information he had remains valuable to the U.S. intelligence community, as it could reveal the identity of agents recruited in the past and their connections to still-operating espionage networks.
Another key aspect is the lack of images or videos of his detention, which has led to speculation that authorities may be questioning him before making more information public.
This suggests that the FBI seeks to assess the extent of its knowledge and determine whether it still poses a threat to national security.
CONCERN IN THE CUBAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
The case has raised concerns among Cuban exiles, who denounce the presence of regime spies in the United States. Analysts warn that there may be other former Cuban intelligence officials living in the country who have not disclosed their past, which represents a latent risk.
The arrest of Hernández Cruz may also indicate a shift in the U.S. government's stance regarding the presence of Cuban spies on its territory, strengthening controls over former members of the island's security apparatus.
Meanwhile, Hernández Cruz remains in custody at the Krome Detention Center, awaiting the judicial proceedings that will determine his future.
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