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The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, questioned on Wednesday the presence in the country of Rosa María Payá, a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), for promoting actions against Cuba, according to La Jornada.
During her morning conference, Sheinbaum emphasized that if a person comes to Mexico representing the CIDH, their role should be limited to addressing human rights complaints and not to advocate for a political cause.
"If they come on behalf of the Commission, they cannot advocate for one side or another, but rather to review if there are any complaints," she stated.
The official indicated that, after learning about the information published by La Jornada, she requested details from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Payá's visit.
She clarified that she does not support Article 33 of the Constitution —which allows for the expulsion of foreigners for political activities— but she believes it is necessary to inform about the nature of their stay.
In that context, Sheinbaum stated that there are digital platforms linked to right-wing organizations that, she claimed, have spread false information to discredit her government.
Nonetheless, he reiterated that he is not in favor of censorship, although he does support confronting what he termed falsehoods.
In a previous note, La Jornada reported that Payá, an anti-Castro activist and member of the CIDH since January 1 of this year, has recently made non-institutional visits to Mexico, meeting with local right-wing groups without any public record of an official agenda.
The newspaper reported that on January 22, he participated in the forum "Cuba and Latin America, six decades of authoritarianism," organized in Mexico City by the Universidad de la Libertad, founded by businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego.
At the event, Payá questioned the Cuban government and pointed out regional projects such as the Sao Paulo Forum and the so-called 21st-century socialism.
According to the outlet, the IACHR did not issue any statements regarding a potential institutional agenda for Payá in Mexican territory during those dates.
It has not been reported whether during his visits he entered the country under the immunities corresponding to his position or as a tourist.
Payá, a U.S. citizen of Cuban descent, was elected in June 2025 as a commissioner of the IACHR.
His candidacy was promoted by the administration of President Donald Trump and by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Since his appointment, he has actively participated in international forums and social networks with critical positions towards the Cuban government.
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