Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar stated that "it's time to stop the crumbs" for the Cuban people and argued that Cubans "deserve freedom" and the conditions to thrive.
In a message shared on her social media, she stated that she and other lawmakers sent a letter to the administration demanding the closure of licenses linked to businesses that, in her words, would be “colluding with the regime.”
In his statement, Salazar asserted that those permits benefit individuals who are "feeding off the hunger" of mothers, children, and wives, and he suggested that revoking "all types of licenses" for those who maintain that connection with the Cuban government would help hasten the end of the political system on the island.
"The time for FREEDOM has come," he exclaimed, asserting that with President Trump and Secretary Rubio "firm and without concessions," the freedom of Cuba is closer than ever.
The lawmaker recognized the emotional impact of being unable to help the family, but argued that if they can "bring an end to this regime," that same family "will thrive."
Salazar added that, in his view, what has been done so far amounts to sending "crumbs" to the Cuban people, and he insisted that what they "deserve" is "freedom, freedom, and freedom."
This Wednesday, Republican congressmen Carlos A. Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and María Elvira Salazar herself submitted a request to the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Commerce, denouncing that certain active business licenses might be undermining the sanctions imposed by the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD) of 1996.
“We are extremely concerned about the American companies that are currently engaging in disruptive business activities with entities controlled by the Cuban regime, a state designated as a sponsor of terrorism,” the congressmen stated in the letter.
In his opinion, these operations contravene Title I of the LIBERTY Act, which states that sanctions must be upheld "until tangible progress is made towards democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental freedoms" in Cuba.
According to the signatories, the licenses issued by OFAC and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) allow transactions that ultimately benefit the Cuban state apparatus, particularly conglomerates under military control.
"These activities could provide financial resources, material support, or dual-use capabilities that could be diverted for internal repression or intelligence operations," they reported.
The congress members attached a 50-page document with manifests of authorized goods—including luxury cars and high-value items—sent from Miami to addresses in Plaza de la Revolución, Marianao, and other strategic locations in Havana.
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