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Leaked documents reveal that Mariela Castro, “El Cangrejo,” and other relatives of Raúl Castro traveled to the U.S. with diplomatic passports, special protection, and extended stays, despite the official rhetoric against the U.S. government.
An investigation by Martí Noticias, based on confidential documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba (MINREX), has uncovered an uncomfortable reality for the Havana regime: high-ranking officials, close relatives, and bodyguards of Raúl Castro made multiple trips to the United States between 2012 and 2016, using diplomatic passports and with the backing of the Cuban state itself.
Among the beneficiaries are his daughter, Mariela Castro Espín, his grandchildren Lisa and Paolo Titolo Castro, and his most prominent and powerful grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as “El Cangrejo.”
All of them arrived on U.S. soil against the backdrop of a political context marked by the thawing relations between Havana and Washington.
The documents reveal that, under the pretext of attending meetings at the UN, some of these trips lasted more than three weeks, far exceeding what was required for official activities.
For example, Mariela Castro traveled to New York in April 2015 accompanied by her children, her husband, and an official from CENESEX, all holding diplomatic documentation.
Her presence in the U.S. was not new: she had already participated in academic events in San Francisco in 2012, a visit that sparked criticism from U.S. congress members and provoked public protests.
Despite the complaints, the U.S. authorities provided special protection from the State Department to the Cuban official and housed her near the Cuban mission at the UN.
On another occasion, the restrictions prevented him from going beyond a 25-mile radius, limiting his participation in an event in Philadelphia.
For his part, Rodríguez Castro, head of Raúl Castro's personal security team, also traveled to the U.S. on several occasions.
He was only 31 years old in 2015 when the MINREX requested his diplomatic visa for "United Nations system meetings," a rationale reiterated in other requests.
The leaked documents also include the names of high-ranking officials from the Ministry of the Interior, such as Humberto Francis Pardo and Rafael Arturo Fong Puig, who obtained diplomatic visas under the same scheme.
Meanwhile, Vilma Rodríguez Castro, granddaughter of Raúl, made at least five trips to the U.S. with a diplomatic passport between 2012 and 2016, according to records.
She is the daughter of the late General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Callejas, a key figure in the military conglomerate GAESA.
Consulted by Martí Noticias, a spokesman for the State Department refrained from commenting on the details of each case, but did not hesitate to describe the stance of the Cuban regime as hypocritical:
"While the Cuban people suffer from hunger, live without electricity, and survive in extreme poverty, the regime's officials, their families, and the Cuban elite continue to travel abroad in luxury," stated the spokesperson.
From the U.S. Congress, the reactions were strong: several lawmakers called for immediate sanctions against the family members of the Castro regime who have traveled to the U.S. under diplomatic privileges.
The children and grandchildren of the elite travel, study, and conduct business abroad, taking advantage of official passports that should be reserved for strictly necessary diplomatic functions.
In fact, as early as 2024, cases had been detected of relatives of Cuban officials engaging in private activities in the U.S., ranging from tourism to investments, while the regime's official narrative continues to blame Washington for all the troubles affecting the island.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Castro Family's Diplomatic Trips to the United States
Did Mariela Castro and her family travel to the United States with a diplomatic passport?
Yes, Mariela Castro and other relatives of Raúl Castro made multiple trips to the United States using diplomatic passports. These trips, which took place between 2012 and 2016, were sanctioned by the Cuban state under the pretense of attending meetings at the UN. However, on many occasions, their stays extended beyond what was necessary for official activities. This situation has drawn criticism, particularly due to the contrast between the official discourse of the Cuban regime and the actions of its leaders and their families.
Who is "El Cangrejo" and what is his relationship with trips to the U.S.?
"El Cangrejo" is Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of Raúl Castro and head of the personal security team of the Cuban leader. Like other members of his family, "El Cangrejo" traveled to the United States using a diplomatic passport, with the purported purpose of attending meetings of the United Nations system. These trips have been part of a broader strategy by the Cuban regime to facilitate the international mobility of its senior officials and their families, which has been the subject of controversy and criticism, both within and outside Cuba.
Why is the Cuban regime's stance regarding its officials' trips to the U.S. considered hypocritical?
The stance of the Cuban regime is considered hypocritical because, while it publicly criticizes the U.S. government, it allows its high-ranking officials and their families to travel luxuriously to the United States. These actions stand in stark contrast to the living conditions in Cuba, where the population faces hunger, blackouts, and extreme poverty. Criticism also focuses on the fact that regime officials use diplomatic passports for non-essential purposes and enjoy privileges that are beyond the reach of the average Cuban citizen.
What reactions have the revelations of the Castro family's diplomatic trips provoked in the U.S. Congress?
The revelations about the diplomatic travels of the Castro family have sparked outrage among Cuban-American congress members in the United States. Legislators like María Elvira Salazar and Mario Díaz-Balart have labeled the situation as "hypocrisy of the Castro regime" and have called for immediate sanctions against the regime's family members who have traveled to the U.S. under diplomatic privileges. These congress members emphasize the contradiction between the anti-American rhetoric of the Cuban regime and the actions of its elite, who continue to enjoy luxuries abroad.
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