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The Miami-Dade County tax collector, Dariel Fernández, called on federal authorities this Tuesday to investigate a company with local ties that, he stated, "could be involved in financial agreements" that involve or benefit the government of Cuba.
According to a statement shared on his social media, Fernández expressed that he is “deeply concerned” about reports regarding that possible financial connection.
He stated that any activity that ultimately places "money, operational control, or financial influence" into the hands of "a communist dictatorship" must be subjected to the highest level of scrutiny.
In his statement, he added that the Cuban regime “systematically oppresses its people” and aligns itself with hostile governments such as Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.
In the same statement, the official emphasized that remittances are intended to “support families and provide humanitarian assistance,” and not to “strengthen or legitimize” an authoritarian government or its state financial apparatus.
He also recalled that U.S. legislation stipulates that commercial and financial activities related to Cuba are severely restricted and may only occur under strict and explicit federal authorization, and he warned that foreign approvals or involvement do not eliminate these legal obligations.
Fernández said that he is urging federal authorities to review the matter and take "all necessary measures" to prevent entities based in the United States from contributing "directly or indirectly" to the financing or empowerment of the Cuban regime.
The statement mentioned in the text does not identify the company under suspicion.
The request for investigation comes after Fernández announced the previous week the revocation of licenses for 20 companies suspected of having business ties with the Cuban regime.
On that occasion, he stated: “As a Cuban emigrant, I have firsthand knowledge of the suffering inflicted by the Cuban communist regime... Miami-Dade County will not be used as a platform to fund or support it.”
Fernández publicly defended his office's actions in response to a lawsuit filed by a private company following the revocation of licenses, and he reiterated that he will continue to enforce the law "in a transparent manner."
In an interview with Univisión, he explained that in order to conduct transactions with Cuba, businesses must have an OFAC license or operate under a general license that specifies the activity.
According to Fernández, the process followed by his office was gradual: letters were sent to request documentation; some companies responded while others did not; then a second notification was issued.
Companies that demonstrated compliance with legal standards did not face consequences and were able to continue operating.
He clarified, moreover, that his office does not directly "close" businesses, but rather carries out an administrative process to revoke the Local Business Tax Receipt, which is an essential requirement for operating in the county.
These statements come after the Cuban regime authorized the American company Cubamax Travel Inc. to operate in Cuba as a money transmitter, even allowing it to deliver cash in dollars to beneficiaries within the country.
The disposition grants Cubamax permission to "channel funds through Cuban financial institutions for deposit into accounts, debit or prepaid cards," as well as to "deliver cash in national currency or in foreign currency to the beneficiaries."
The official text specifies that Cubamax, based in Hialeah, Florida, and licensed as a money transmitter by the Office of Financial Regulation in the United States, will be able to operate without establishing itself as a legal entity in Cuba, as long as it meets the requirements for supervision, transparency, and cybersecurity mandated by the Central Bank.
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