The Republican congressman Mario Díaz-Balart reaffirmed his commitment to seeking a legal solution for Cubans holding the I-220A form and advocated for the reinstatement of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, Haitians, and other nationalities.
The legislator for District 26 of Florida was straightforward in addressing the situation of nearly half a million Cubans holding that document without a defined immigration status in an interview given to the Telemundo 51 program Encuentro Virtual, hosted by journalist Gloria Ordaz.
“We continue to work to restore the ability for Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans who are in this legal limbo to remain here,” he stated.
His opposition to deportations was equally explicit: “I am against it and advocate for Cubans not to be deported to Cuba, for Cubans not to be returned.”
That stance extends to other nationalities.
“I have always advocated for TPS. I continue to advocate for TPS for Venezuelans, Haitians, and others. I do not think it is reasonable to deport people to Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, or Nicaragua. Given the circumstances in those countries, people should not be sent back to those countries,” he stated.
The I-220A is a supervised release order issued by ICE that allows individuals to remain outside of custody while their immigration case is ongoing, but it does not equate to the parole that would activate the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966.
That distinction is the core of the litigation Bello-Rubio vs. the Department of Homeland Security, filed by 992 Cubans, whose hearing was postponed to September 2 before Judge Jacqueline Becerra in Miami.
Díaz-Balart acknowledged that the only path forward is through direct dialogue with the White House.
“We continue to fight and work towards that, and the only way is to work with the president, not by shouting or causing a scandal, but by collaborating with this administration,” he concluded.
Trump will not leave the White House with the Cuban regime in power
Regarding the political future of the island, the congressman expressed a strong conviction: the Trump administration will not tolerate the regime remaining in power at the end of the presidential term.
“As long as his hands are not tied, I am convinced that he will not leave the White House with the regime in Havana still in control,” he stated, quoting Trump's own words regarding the idea that, once the situation with Iran is resolved, Cuba will be the next target.
In light of the possibility that a member of the Castro family may lead a transition process, Díaz-Balart recalled the three conditions set by U.S. law to lift the sanctions:
- Release of all political prisoners.
- Legalization of a free press and political parties.
- Celebration of free and multi-party elections.
“Is this regime capable of doing that? I don’t believe it can do that, but if there are free elections under those conditions, it means that it is no longer in power,” he pointed out.
He also dismissed the idea that Cuba's future leadership should come from within the regime's nomenclature
"The prisons of the Cuban political imprisonment are filled with heroes ready to become the next leaders of Cuba. What is needed is for the Cuban people to have elections. I am convinced that this will finally come soon."
Venezuela and María Corina Machado
When referring to Venezuela, Díaz-Balart openly backed María Corina Machado as the future elected president of the country.
"I am convinced that when there are free elections in Venezuela, I believe I know who the next elected president will be. I think it will be María Corina Machado," he stated, calling her one of the most impressive leaders he has known.
"For Venezuela, for the hemisphere, and for the relationship with the United States, there is no one better than María Corina Machado. But for that to happen, there must be elections, and we are moving forward in that process," he stated.
The congressman attributed the credit to Trump for making that perspective possible: "The only reason there is the possibility of free elections, of this transition, is precisely because of what President Trump has done."
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