WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL28) introduced the International Port Security Enforcement Act, a bill which would ensure State Sponsors of Terrorism and Terrorist Organizations are prohibited from engaging with the Secretary of Homeland Security through the International Port Security Program. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the bill in the Senate.
Three weeks ago, Castro Regime agents were scheduled to meet with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to tour multiple facilities, including USCG HQ in Washington, but was canceled after Congressman Carlos Gimenez (FL-28) along with Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and others sent a letter to the Administration.
As officials of a country designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, the presence of Castro Regime officials poses a direct threat to U.S. National Security.
“We are deeply concerned about the U.S. national security implications of allowing government officials with a known adversarial foreign intelligence service to access sensitive U.S. Federal Government facilities. Not only is Cuba still a U.S. designated State Sponsor of Terrorism along with North Korea, Iran, and Syria, but Cuba remains a chief counterintelligence threat. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence consistently identifies Cuba as a core and continuing counterintelligence mission, similar to Iran and North Korea.
Additionally, Cuba and Russia have continued to deepen bilateral relations, including in security cooperation, amplifying the threat to U.S. national security,” Congressman Carlos Gimenez said.
“We strongly urge you to table the consideration of such a visit that ignores the Cuban regime’s brutality, its repression of its citizens, and its designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, while also exposing our Nation’s port infrastructure to potential vulnerabilities and jeopardizing our national security.”
“It is beyond comprehension how the Biden Administration could be so naive. Inviting agents of a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism to tour our security facilities is dumb and dangerous. The Cuban dictatorship is an enemy of the U.S. and actively aids tyrants worldwide. If this administration doesn’t stand up to the criminal Cuban regime, I will,” Senator Rubio said.
Congressman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) is the only Cuban-born Member of the 118th Congress, having been forced from his homeland shortly after the Communist takeover of the island. Rep. Gimenez represents Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and the Select Committee on China.