The recent arrival in Miami of former Cuban official Manuel Menéndez Castellanos through the family reunification program has ignited growing discontent within the Cuban community in South Florida. This comes at a time when thousands of Cuban citizens remain in immigration limbo and face the unjust threat of deportation.
Attorney Willy Allen stated in an interview with America Tevé that a federal investigation, requested by Cuban-American lawmakers in South Florida, would be the best way to uncover how Menéndez Castellanos was allowed entry. "I want, number one, for the congressmen and senators to investigate—because it has to be at the federal level—what happened here? What happened in that interview?" questioned Allen.
The lawyer emphasized that even if Menéndez Castellanos was removed from his position 20 years ago, it does not absolve the harm he caused before his removal, nor does it negate the 40 years of wrongdoing in Cienfuegos, or the damage inflicted on Cuba by individuals like him.
Allen is pushing for an investigation into the family reunification applicant—believed to be a son—specifically what was stated in the section asking for the father's occupation.
Santiago Alpízar, an immigration lawyer and vice president of Cubademanda and Cubapresión ID, organizations that report human rights violations in Cuba, supports the call for a federal investigation. Additionally, Alpízar's office has sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, questioning how Menéndez Castellanos was permitted entry into the United States while thousands of Cubans remain in legal limbo, fearing deportation due to the controversial I-220A immigration document.
The Represores Cubanos Project—a project by the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba—has placed Menéndez Castellanos on its blacklist of white-collar repressors. In 1993, Menéndez Castellanos chaired the National Candidacy Commission of the Cuban parliament and has been accused of electoral fraud and crimes against humanity for political persecution.
"What excuse can President Biden and Vice President Harris offer while they keep Cuban families divided and in legal limbo, yet grant visas to the regime's henchmen and thugs?" questioned Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart.
Meanwhile, the Patmos Institute, based in Washington, has criticized the alarming increase in the entry of "officials responsible for the communist system in Cuba" into the United States, a trend that contrasts with the many cases of victims on the island who have no access to a refugee program, which has been stalled for years.
After being replaced as the top communist leader in Cienfuegos in 2003 and later serving as the head of the support team for dictator Fidel Castro—a position whose end date remains unknown—Menéndez Castellanos appeared in 2012 discussing renewable energy in Cuba on a Mesa Redonda, holding the title of Director of Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Basic Industry.
Details Surrounding Manuel Menéndez Castellanos' Entry into the U.S.
In light of the controversy surrounding Manuel Menéndez Castellanos' entry into the United States, several key questions have emerged. Here, we address some of the most pressing queries.
Why is there a call for a federal investigation into Menéndez Castellanos' entry?
Cuban-American lawmakers and community leaders are demanding a federal investigation to understand how Menéndez Castellanos, a former high-ranking Cuban official, was permitted entry into the U.S. while many Cuban citizens remain in immigration limbo and face deportation.
What roles did Manuel Menéndez Castellanos hold in Cuba?
Menéndez Castellanos chaired the National Candidacy Commission of the Cuban parliament in 1993 and later served as the head of the support team for dictator Fidel Castro. He has also been linked to electoral fraud and crimes against humanity.
What actions are being taken by U.S. officials and organizations regarding Menéndez Castellanos' entry?
Organizations like Cubademanda, Cubapresión ID, and the Patmos Institute, along with several U.S. lawmakers, are calling for a federal investigation. Additionally, a letter has been sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas questioning the decision.