Despite the fact that Cuba’s status as a U.S. designated state sponsor of terrorism, members of the communist regime of Cuba were given a secret guided tour of Miami International Airport on May 20, according to a report from the Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ), State Department, and Department of Homeland Security ( DHS).
Five authorities from the Castro community routine apparently made a five-hour tour that included a visit to TSA’s manage facilities at Miami International Airport. Some of the company’s vulnerable computer systems are apparently located in some of the high-security areas that communist officials were permitted to visit.
The native Miami- Dade County management, as well as aircraft personnel, stated they were aware of the browse, which prompted their quick criticism as well as the condemnation of the Cuban diaspora in Florida.
Some people criticized the decision to choose May 20, Caribbean Independence Day as the tour’s starting date. The Castro government has made numerous efforts to prevent Cubans from celebrating its independence day throughout its over six years of communist rule, trying to replace the trip with July 26 — the celebration of late despot Fidel Castro’s 1953 terrorist attack on the Moncada military army.
Mayor of Miami-Dade County Daniella Levine Cava shared the “deep frustration” the local residents had had with DHS, TSA, and the Department of State over the visit of Castro regime officials via social media on Thursday.
Levine Cara stated that the organizations apologized and committed to changing their procedures to make sure we are informed before any other foreign delegations visit our airport.
Today, I met with @dhsgov, @tsa and @statedept to share our community’s deep frustration about the visit of Cuban officials to MIA. The organizations expressed regret and changed their procedures to make sure we are informed before any additional foreign delegations visit our airport.
— Daniella Levine Cava ( @MayorDaniella ) May 23, 2024
Similarly, the U. According to S-based outlet Mart Noticias, TSA apologized that the visit “was not coordinated and communicated in advance to airport and county officials,” in a message the organization sent to the outlet on Friday.
TSA claimed in the message that the agency “routinely works with all countries with direct flights to the United States” and that the Cuban Ministry of Transportation made “occasional reciprocal visits” in 2018.
An anonymous State Department official claimed to Mart Noticias after the negative feedback from last week’s visit that TSA has been conducting frequent airport screenings in Cuba since 2003 and that Cuba “began sending occasionally reciprocal visits to the United States in 2011, which has continued under President Donald Trump’s administration to this day.”
The State Department official informed the U.S. According to S outlet, “aviation security is clearly of national interest” and that “given Cuba’s proximity and the existence of direct flights to and from both countries, U. S. and Cuban authorities should collaborate as each works to ensure the safety of travelers at airports.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL ), Representatives Mario Daz-Balart (R-FL ), and Carlos Gimenez (R-FL ), both stated in a press conference on Friday that they will request more details about the Castro regime’s recent visit to the Miami airport.
Rep. Giménez, who served as Miami-Dade County mayor between 2011 and 2020, announced at the press conference that TSA had just learned that Castro regime officials had been in Miami-Dade County during a similar visit, which the organization claimed was” to address aviation security issues.”
” When I was mayor, no one got in touch with me to let me know that those visits were happening.” That’s something that bothers me about TSA. It is a lack of respect for our community”, Rep. Giménez said.
The Castro regime, according to the congressman, was well-versed in the significance of May 20 prior to the tour.  ,
They “knew it consciously and used the date to hit the Cuban exile twice in the face,” he said.
Prior to the Friday press conference, U. S. Senators Marco Rubio ( R- FL ), Rick Scott ( R- FL ), and Reps. Carlos Gimenez ( R- FL ), MarÃa Elvira Salazar ( R- FL ), and Mario DÃaz- Balart ( R- FL ) published a letter on Wednesday addressing Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas and TSA administrator David Pekoske, in which they expressed their “deep concern and indignation” over the Cuban officials ‘ visit. They requested in the letter that the officials explain the TSA or DHS’s legal authority to the Cuban officials to tour sensitive areas of the airport, what areas they accessed, and what security standards the TSA has for screening foreign visitors on tours at U.S. airports.
Christian K. Caruzo is a writer from Venezuela who writes about life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter , here.
