Salazar Demands Expulsion of Top Cuban Communist Party Official from the United States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, copying Benjamin Ziff, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, demanding he revoke the visa of Manuel Menéndez Castellanos, the ex First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba for Cienfuegos, after he arrived in the United States on an immigrant visa.

The Cuban regime is the worst perpetrator of human rights and civil liberties abuses against its own people. American visas are reserved for victims of the regime, not the victimizers.

“Since Manuel Menéndez Castellanos worked so hard to defend communism, he must spend his retirement living in the communist system,” wrote Rep. Salazar. “Do the right thing and cancel Manuel Menéndez Castellanos's visa immediately – he does not deserve to spend his retirement in freedom.”

Local media reported that Menéndez Castellanos arrived at Miami International Airport on August 16, 2024 as a recipient of an immigrant visa. Menéndez Castellanos spent ten years as the First Secretary of the Communist Party for the Cienfuegos province. He then became a member of the National Assembly from 1998 to 2008. He was one of the tyrant Fidel Castro’s right hand men as a member of the Coordination and Support Team and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

It is unthinkable that someone who spent his life and career subjugating the Cuban people in the name of communism would be allowed to benefit from the fruits of American freedom and capitalism. Secretary Blinken must revoke his visa immediately.

To read the full letter, click here.

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