Related videos:
Republican congress members María Elvira Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Carlos Giménez have urged the Trump Administration to cancel the business licenses with Cuba.
"I sent a letter to the Department of the Treasury and Commerce requesting the immediate revocation of licenses that allow U.S. companies to do business with the Cuban dictatorship," Salazar explained on her X account.
"These authorizations weaken the sanctions, undermine the LIBERTAD Act, and ultimately put money in the hands of the regime. Without exceptions. Without loopholes. The law must be enforced, and every dollar that sustains the dictatorship in power must be cut off," he said.
What are the congress members asking for?
In the document, the three Cuban-American politicians express their concern that the licenses issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) continue to authorize transactions that provide financial or material benefits to companies controlled by the Cuban regime.
Salazar, Díaz-Balart, and Giménez assert that this directly undermines the U.S. sanctions law and the intention of Congress under the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD) of 1996.
Therefore, they urge the Treasury and Commerce to:
- Conduct a thorough review of all active licenses involving the Government of Cuba or state-owned enterprises;
- Revoke any license that directly or indirectly benefits entities controlled by the regime;
- Strengthen the scrutiny of future license applications related to Cuba;
- Issue an updated public guide clarifying that the licenses supporting the Cuban regime violate current U.S. law.
"The U.S. law is clear: sanctions exist to deny economic support to the Cuban dictatorship until a real democratic change occurs," declared María Elvira.
"Therefore, we urge the Government to review and revoke any license that directly or indirectly benefits entities controlled by the regime, to strengthen the scrutiny of future licenses, and to fully implement the LIBERTAD Act. Every dollar that is denied to the regime brings the Cuban people one step closer to freedom," he noted.
The Republicans demand the enforcement of the LIBERTY Act
In Carlos Giménez's opinion, President Trump's actions have brought the collapse of the communist regime in Cuba closer than ever.
"We demand the closure of all sources of income that the regime uses to repress the Cuban people. We call for the closure of the flow of free oil from Venezuela, the suspension of flights and remittances, and the shutdown of the companies that send luxury goods from the United States to Cuba," he detailed.
"If God wills, the Castro regime will not survive these four years of President Donald J. Trump!" he exclaimed.
Mario Díaz-Balart also expressed confidence that the dictatorships in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua will not survive Donald Trump's current term, thanks to his zero tolerance approach and maximum pressure.
"This means applying U.S. law, which prohibits all companies from dealing with the Cuban regime and cutting off any dollars that support a state sponsor of terrorism, as mandated by Congress in the LIBERTAD Act of 1996," he emphasized.
What does the LIBERTAD Law establish?
Title I of the LIBERTAD Act stipulates that U.S. sanctions aim to deny economic support to the Cuban dictatorship until there are advancements toward democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.
Sections 102 and 103 prohibit any form of assistance to state-owned enterprises that support repression on the Island.
The congress members from South Florida warn that by granting licenses, there is a risk of providing the regime with financial resources, material support, or dual-use capabilities that could be diverted towards internal repression or intelligence operations.
What is being exported from the United States to Cuba?
A document sent to Fox News by the office of Carlos Giménez reveals that the exports authorized by the licenses include products ranging from construction materials to luxury items such as high-end cars and hot tubs.
The goods were shipped from Miami to addresses in Plaza de la Revolución, Marianao, and other strategic locations in Havana.
The policy analyst for Latin America, Andrés Martínez-Fernández, acknowledged that cutting the authorized exports of food and medicine is a sensitive issue.
However, he clarified that even when exports appear to be intended for civilian individuals, they often end up in the hands of the power elite.
"We are exporting construction products - and everything is collapsing in Cuba, except for the houses of government officials and their collaborators in the regime," he pointed out.
Similar order in Miami-Dade
On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis reiterated her call to President Trump to review and suspend the federal export licenses related to Cuba that, under the guise of humanitarian purposes, would be permitting the shipment of luxury and recreational goods that ultimately benefit the regime's elite.
In a statement sent to CiberCuba, the official urged immediate action to stop what she considers an abuse of humanitarian exemptions.
"Humanitarian exemptions were never intended to finance luxuries for the upper echelons of Cuban communism. Ferraris, jacuzzis, and jet skis do not feed families or provide medication. They serve the regime's elite, not the Cuban people," stated Orbis.
The commissioner noted that records published on the Transparency Page of the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector list luxury items associated with federal licenses related to Cuba, which she described as "brazen."
"The sanctions must be applied as they are written. If exports for humanitarian purposes are authorized, they should be limited to basic needs such as food and medicine, not luxury goods," stated Milian Orbis.
Express support from Trump for Cuban-American congressmen
President Donald Trump expressed his "full support" on Tuesday for the re-election of Carlos Giménez and María Elvira Salazar in two messages posted on his social media platform Truth Social.
Regarding Carlos Giménez, representative of Florida's 28th district, Trump highlighted his background as a firefighter, civic leader, and former mayor of Miami-Dade before becoming a congressman.
He noted that in Congress he works to strengthen the economy, reduce taxes and regulations, promote U.S. energy dominance, boost domestic production, secure the border, combat immigration-related crime, support the armed forces and veterans, and defend the Second Amendment.
"Congressman Carlos Giménez has my complete and total support for reelection. He will never let you down!" wrote the president.
In a similar message dedicated to María Elvira Salazar, representative of Florida's 27th district, Trump praised her performance and her previous experience as a host and political reporter.
He emphasized that in Congress, he works to grow the economy, reduce taxes and regulations, promote American-made products, advance energy independence, secure the border, curb migrant crime, support the military and veterans, and defend the Second Amendment.
"Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has my complete and total support for reelection. She will never let you down!" published the president.
Both endorsements are made in the context of the electoral cycle in the United States and strengthen Trump's support for two key Republican figures in South Florida, a region with a significant Cuban exile presence and a decisive influence in federal elections.
Filed under: