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The U.S. Secretary of State reacted this Thursday to the arrest of Adys Lastres Morera, sister of Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, CEO of GAESA, the business conglomerate controlled by the Cuban Armed Forces.
Rubio stated that the arrested individual "was managing real estate assets and living in Florida" while "aiding the communist regime in Havana," and accused GAESA of "stealing millions in aid meant for the Cuban people at the behest of the regime," until her permanent resident status was revoked.
The statement was published by Marco Rubio on his official account on X and later elaborated on by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which confirmed that the arrest occurred on May 21 in Miami, after the Department of State determined on May 20 that her presence in the United States violated the Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to ICE, Adys Lastres Morera is considered a deportable permanent resident whose presence "poses a threat to the United States and undermines U.S. foreign policy interests."
The authorities also noted that her sister, Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, heads GAESA, an organization described by HSI as "the heart of the Cuban kleptocratic communist system" that controls up to 70% of the island's economy.
The interim associate executive director of HSI, John Condon, stated that GAESA controls up to 20 billion dollars in illicit assets and accused the organization of benefiting only corrupt elites while the Cuban population continues to suffer under the communist system.
HSI also stated that the revenues of GAESA exceed more than three times the budget of the Cuban government and were funneled into hidden accounts abroad while the Cuban population continued to suffer under the communist system.
He also argued that allowing Adys Lastres to remain in the United States would send a message that networks linked to the Cuban regime could continue to access U.S. financial, educational, and social institutions.
The Secretary of State added that he is "pleased to announce" that Adys Lastres Morera has been arrested and is now in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Rubio stated in his message that "there will be no place on this Earth —and even less in our country— where foreigners who threaten our national security can live in luxury."
The arrest occurred hours after the Department of Justice revealed an expanded indictment against Raúl Castro for the deaths of four people in 1996.
ICE indicated that Adys Lastres Morera entered the United States on January 13, 2023, under the Biden administration, and there are no records of her having applied for U.S. citizenship or a U.S. passport.
He will remain in immigration custody while the deportation process progresses.
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