News of a criminal indictment for former Cuban President Raúl Castro drew immediate response from Florida’s political leaders. Considering that 76% of all Cuban immigrants in the U.S. live in Florida, according to the Migration Policy Institute, many responses reflected solidarity with the diaspora in the state.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a Naples Republican, posted: “JUSTICE! Raúl Castro was behind the shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue, KILLING four innocent men, THREE of whom were American citizens. He belongs behind bars for the rest of his life. I’ve been calling on this for years and I’m grateful he’s being held ACCOUNTABLE for his crimes. THANK YOU, President Donald Trump, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for indicting Raul Castro and bringing him to justice.”
U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a Hialeah Republican, posted: “For decades, previous Administrations turned a blind eye in the pursuit of justice for the three U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident who were brutally and unjustifiably murdered under direct orders from Raúl Castro. Those four innocents, who were flying defenselessly in their Cessna light aircraft, never had a chance when Castro ordered his Cuban Air Force MiG fighter planes to ambush and murder them. That was a deliberate murder, and Raúl Castro will finally be held accountable for this crime. Today marks the beginning of that path toward justice that was denied to the victims for so long, and it is made possible thanks to the decisive actions of President Donald Trump and the determination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Federal Prosecutor Jason Reding Quiñones.”
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican and candidate for Governor, posted: “Today’s indictment will help secure long-awaited justice for the people of Cuba and Cuban Americans. Extradite this murderous tyrant and have him stand trial in Florida so he can face the families of his many victims.”
U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, a Miami-Dade Republican, posted that it’s time “for Raul Castro to face American justice.”
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, posted: “The left will find a way to take issue with this. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is making the world safer, one dictator indictment at a time.”
U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican, posted: “Raúl Castro thought he would die without ever facing justice. Instead, justice is finally knocking at his door. I commend the Trump Administration for taking steps to hold this ruthless dictator accountable for the innocent blood on his hand. For decades, he operated with total impunity just 90 miles from our shores while politicians in Washington chose silence over accountability. The murder of innocent Americans and Cuban freedom fighters from Brothers to the Rescue was not a mistake. It was a cold-blooded act of terror against innocent people risking their lives to help Cubans fleeing tyranny in the Florida Straits. Accountability is finally catching up to those who ruled Cuba through fear, violence, and death. And under President Trump, the era of appeasing tyrants is over. Cuba WILL be free.”