Duval Times

On September 5, 2024, Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The letter raises concerns about the national security risks posed by the Biden-Harris administration's recent expansion of nonimmigrant visas (NIV) to individuals from Cuba. The senators argue that this policy benefits the Cuban regime without adequately ensuring proper vetting.

The letter states, "Rather than compelling the Cuban dictatorship to end its human rights abuses and bring democracy to the island, the Biden-Harris Administration has only looked for opportunities to pacify the regime and mend diplomatic relations. We see no other reason for expanding NIVs to Cuban individuals and no justification for why doing so serves the interests of the United States."

The senators emphasize that this expansion could disproportionately benefit members of Cuba's elite ruling class, who have closer ties to the regime. They express concern over the potential difficulty in properly vetting visa recipients due to Cuba's lack of transparency.

The letter further criticizes previous actions by the Biden-Harris administration, such as a parole program allowing former high-ranking Cuban officials into the U.S., which was paused after reports of fraud and abuse. Additionally, it highlights concerns about lifting Cuba's designation as a "not fully cooperating" country on counterterrorism efforts.

The senators request Secretary Blinken provide detailed explanations on how this policy serves American interests and ensures proper vetting of visa applicants with connections to the Cuban regime.

###