Cuban-American Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar is urging U.S. authorities to revoke the visa of Manuel Menéndez Castellanos, a former official of the Cuban regime who recently entered the country on a family reunification visa. Salazar sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with a copy to Benjamín Ziff, the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, detailing Castellanos' history as a repressor serving the Castro dictatorship.
"U.S. visas are meant for the victims of the communist regime in Cuba; they are not intended to benefit the regime's perpetrators," Salazar emphasized.
The Republican leader reminded that Menéndez Castellanos was a high-level communist official who led the Communist Party in the province of Cienfuegos for 10 years and later served as a deputy in the National Assembly for another decade. He was also part of Fidel Castro's Coordination and Support Team, a group of trusted men tasked with spreading fear among opponents and promoting Castro's brutal policies.
Menéndez Castellanos' Role in the Cuban Regime
"Living in freedom in the U.S. is for the victims of communism, not for the oppressors. People want to leave Cuba because of the system that Menéndez Castellanos worked to perpetuate; he should spend the rest of his life in that system," asserted the federal Republican congresswoman.
The politician, a daughter of Cuban immigrants, highlighted that during his years as a government official, Menéndez Castellanos had the opportunity to denounce what was happening and defect, but he failed to do so. Therefore, he does not deserve to enjoy his retirement in freedom.
"Menéndez does not deserve an American visa, something that tens of thousands of freedom-loving Cubans have been waiting for years," she added. "You must immediately revoke Menéndez Castellanos' visa. Having worked so hard to defend communism, he should spend his retirement living in the communist system. Why would we allow a central figure of the regime that fought against U.S. interests to obtain a visa to move to the United States and enjoy the fruits of freedom? That contradicts everything America stands for," she emphasized.
On August 15, Menéndez Castellanos arrived in the country through the Miami International Airport as a beneficiary of an immigrant visa. This event has shocked the Cuban exile community in Florida, as it is presumed he must have lied about his communist affiliation during his interview at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
Meanwhile, thousands of emigrants are in a migration limbo and under threat of deportation, and many others on the island are waiting for parole or trying to leave by any means possible.
This week, attorney Willy Allen indicated that a federal investigation requested by South Florida's Cuban-American legislators would be the best way to determine why Menéndez Castellanos was able to enter the country.
"Let the congressmen investigate—because it has to be at the federal level—let the senators investigate what happened here? What happened in that interview?" he told America TeVe.
The lawyer added that even if Menéndez had been relieved of his position 20 years ago, "that does not erase the harm he caused before losing his post, nor the 40 years he spent doing wrong in Cienfuegos, nor the damage he did to the country, nor the harm people like him have done to Cuba."
Additionally, Santiago Alpízar, an immigration lawyer and vice president of Cubademanda and Cubapresión ID, entities that denounce human rights violations on the island, supports the call for a federal investigation.
Furthermore, the Cuban Repressors Project—part of the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba—has added Menéndez Castellanos to its blacklist of white-collar repressors.
"What excuse can President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris give while keeping Cuban families divided and in legal limbo, while granting visas to butchers and thugs of the Castro regime?" questioned Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart.
Meanwhile, Patmos Institute, based in Washington, has called the increase in the entry of "responsible figures of the communist system in Cuba" into the United States alarming, while many cases of victims on the island have no access to a refugee program, which has been stalled for years.
Key Issues Surrounding Menéndez Castellanos' Visa
Given the controversy surrounding Menéndez Castellanos' entry into the United States, several key questions arise. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Why is Maria Elvira Salazar calling for Menéndez Castellanos' visa to be revoked?
Maria Elvira Salazar believes that U.S. visas should be reserved for victims of the Cuban communist regime, not for those who served and perpetuated it. She argues that Menéndez Castellanos, given his history with the Cuban government, does not deserve to benefit from a U.S. visa.
What roles did Menéndez Castellanos play in the Cuban government?
Menéndez Castellanos was a high-level communist official who led the Communist Party in Cienfuegos for 10 years and served as a deputy in the National Assembly for another decade. He was also part of Fidel Castro's Coordination and Support Team.
What has been the response from the Cuban exile community in Florida?
The Cuban exile community in Florida has been shocked and outraged by Menéndez Castellanos' entry into the U.S. They believe he must have lied about his communist affiliation during his visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
What actions are being taken to investigate Menéndez Castellanos' visa approval?
South Florida's Cuban-American legislators are calling for a federal investigation to determine why Menéndez Castellanos was granted entry into the U.S. despite his history with the Cuban regime. Attorneys and human rights organizations are also supporting this call.