Duval Times

On August 21, 2024, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio and Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos A. Giménez in addressing a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The letter condemns the Biden-Harris Administration for reportedly allowing a high-level Cuban Communist Party operative to enter the United States.

The lawmakers expressed their "profound disgust" over reports that Manuel Menendez Castellanos, a prominent member of the Cuban Communist Party, entered the U.S. through Miami International Airport last week. They cited press reports indicating that Castellanos has held significant positions within the Communist Party of Cuba and has been associated with Fidel Castro’s "coordination and support team."

Referencing INA 212(a)(3)(D)(i), which states that any immigrant affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party is inadmissible to the U.S., they questioned how Castellanos could have been allowed entry. The letter states: "Given this prohibition in U.S. law, it would seem likely to us that a high-level, longtime Cuban Communist Party member and agent of that brutal dictatorship would be inadmissible for U.S. entry."

The lawmakers are seeking clarification on whether legal protocols were followed in this case and what measures will be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

They concluded by urging Blinken and Mayorkas to address this matter promptly: "We request that you assess whether the law was followed in this case and if not, what actions will be taken to ensure that high-level Cuban Communist Party operatives are found to be inadmissible according to law."

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