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 direct in addressing the situation of the nearly half a million Cubans who hold that document without a defined immigration status in an interview given to the program Telemundo 51 Encuentro Virtual, hosted by journalist Gloria Ordaz.
“We continue to work towards ensuring that Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans who are in this legal limbo can remain here,” he declared.
His opposition to deportations was equally explicit: “I am against it and advocate that Cubans should not be deported to Cuba, that Cubans should not 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 believe it is reasonable to deport people to Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, or Nicaragua. Given the circumstances in those countries, people should not be returned to those countries,” he stated.
The I-220A is a supervision release order issued by ICE that allows an individual to remain out 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 Bello-Rubio vs. Department of Homeland Security litigation, presented by 992 Cubans, whose hearing was postponed to September 2 before Judge Jacqueline Becerra in Miami.
Díaz-Balart acknowledged that the only way 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 making a scene, but by collaborating with this administration,” she 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 firm 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 declared, citing Trump's own words indicating 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 might lead any transition process, Díaz-Balart recalled the three conditions established by U.S. law for lifting 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 there,” he pointed out.
He also ruled out that Cuba's future leadership should be sought among the nomenclature of the regime
"The prisons of the Cuban political system are filled with heroes ready to be the next leaders of Cuba. What is needed is for the Cuban people to be able to hold elections. I am convinced that this will finally come soon."
Venezuela and María Corina Machado
When referring to Venezuela, Díaz-Balart openly supported María Corina Machado as the country's future elected president.
"I am convinced that when there are free elections in Venezuela, I believe I know who will be the next elected president. I believe it will be María Corina Machado," he stated, describing her as one of the most impressive leaders he has ever met.
"For Venezuela, for the hemisphere, and for the relationship with the United States, no one is better than María Corina Machado. But for that to happen, there has to be elections, and we are moving forward in that process," he assured.
The congressman credited Trump with making that perspective possible: "The only reason there is a possibility of free elections, of this transition, is precisely because of what President Trump has done."
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