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The Republican congressman Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL) formally requested President Donald Trump to revoke the immunity of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for its alleged involvement in the trafficking and exploitation of more than 10,000 Cuban doctors sent to Brazil under the Mais Médicos program.
In a letter sent to the White House, Giménez thanked Trump for his support of the Cuban-American community and denounced that the OPS acted as a financial intermediary in a scheme that he described as "human trafficking and forced labor."
Through this scheme, the Havana regime confiscated most of the salaries of healthcare professionals, withheld their travel documents, and kept them under surveillance.
"Today, I urged President @POTUS to revoke the immunity of the OPS for its role in trafficking and exploiting more than 10,000 Cuban doctors while pocketing U.S. dollars. I look forward to working closely with the Trump Administration to hold the Castro regime and its accomplices accountable," the letter states.
It reports that "between 2013 and 2018, the OPS transferred more than 2.3 billion dollars from Brazil to the Cuban regime, retaining at least 129 million dollars for itself."
He added that the organization based in Washington has invoked diplomatic immunity to evade U.S. justice and has failed to comply with court orders and investigative commitments.
The congressman asked Trump to issue an executive order that limits the immunity of the OPS under the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA), but only concerning the program Mais Médicos, so that victims can file lawsuits in U.S. courts.
“This action would not interrupt legitimate public health operations, but it would ensure that Cuban doctors who are victims of trafficking can seek justice,” he emphasized.
Giménez's request comes just days after the U.S. State Department warned that it will continue to take action against Cuban and Brazilian officials, as well as former executives of the OPS linked to this program, which it described as a "diplomatic scam" and a scheme of labor exploitation.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, recently announced visa restrictions and immigration sanctions against those who have facilitated this system, while Havana insists on continuing to send medical brigades abroad, which is one of its main sources of income.
On its part, the regime in Havana has responded with harsh criticism of Giménez and the Cuban-American congressmen in the U.S., whom it accuses of being annexationists, while defending its so-called medical missions in third countries, which have been under scrutiny without the regime providing documents or evidence of the controversial contracts.
Frequently asked questions about Carlos Giménez's complaint against the OPS and the trafficking of Cuban doctors
Why does Carlos Giménez ask Trump to revoke the immunity of the OPS?
Carlos Giménez calls for the revocation of PAHO's immunity due to its alleged involvement in the trafficking and exploitation of over 10,000 Cuban doctors in Brazil under the Mais Médicos program. According to Giménez, PAHO acted as a financial intermediary in a human trafficking and forced labor scheme, withholding millions of dollars that were meant for the Cuban doctors.
What actions has the United States taken against the Cuban regime regarding medical missions?
The United States has taken several measures against the Cuban regime, including visa restrictions and immigration sanctions aimed at officials involved in the Mais Médicos program. Additionally, sanctions have been imposed against former officials of the OPS and Brazilian officials for their complicity in the forced labor scheme. The U.S. government classifies these missions as forced labor and labor exploitation, and has urged other countries to ensure fair labor practices for Cuban doctors.
How does the Mais Médicos program affect Cuban professionals?
The Mais Médicos program impacts Cuban professionals by subjecting them to exploitative working conditions. The Cuban regime retains the majority of their salaries, confiscates travel documents, and keeps them under surveillance. This scheme has been denounced as a form of human trafficking and forced labor, depriving doctors of their labor rights and freedom of movement.
What is the Cuban regime's stance on the accusations of labor exploitation in medical missions?
The Cuban regime defends its medical missions abroad as humanitarian acts and denies allegations of labor exploitation. However, it has not provided documents or evidence of contracts with the doctors and continues to send medical brigades overseas, one of its main sources of income. The regime criticizes Cuban-American congress members for their positions, accusing them of being annexationists.
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