Miami-Dade mayor, Lt. Gov. Nunez and other officials scathe Cuban officials’ TSA tour at MIA
MIAMI – Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed “shock” Tuesday regarding a Cuban delegation touring TSA facilities at Miami International Airport that potentially could lead to vulnerabilities in accessing security protocols.
“Like many across our community, I was shocked to learn that a Cuban government delegation was invited to visit Transportation Security Administration facilities at Miami International Airport,” Cava said. “The decision to allow Cuban officials to tour secure areas at MIA was made without the knowledge of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, and took place on Cuban Independence Day – a day that we reaffirm our commitment to freedom and democracy in Cuba in the face of brutal dictatorship.”
In her statement, Cava, a Democrat, mentioned being in contact with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to “understand how this decision was made.” She also requested a “heads-up” on all future decisions regarding access to Miami International Airport facilities to foreign government officials.
Overall, 52% of United States Cuban immigrants are located in Miami-Dade County. Cubans also are well represented in Hillsborough, Broward, Palm Beach, and Lee counties.
Cuban-Americans also settled in Florida to the tune of 76%, by far the most of any state. Texas and New Jersey were a distant second and third totaling 8%.
“Miami-Dade County stands firmly with the Cuban people here in our community and on the island as they continue the fight to bring freedom to Cuba, and we are committed to ensuring the safety of our community and all those who travel through MIA,” Cava said.
While Cava expressed her surprise, she did not specifically mention President Joe Biden. At the state level, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez Tuesday zeroed in on the administration.
“It is unacceptable that the Biden administration allowed officials of the communist Cuban regime to access secure @TSA areas in Miami International Airport. Florida demands answers,” Nunez said.
In response to the ordeal, Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah Gardens, criticized Miami International Airport Director Ralph Cutie for allowing the situation to happen.
“If he does not make it his own priority to know what is happening in his airport, how could our community trust him to continue overseeing @iflymia,” Avila said.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also responded Tuesday to Cuban officials touring the airport’s facilities. Rubio, a Cuban-American himself, has been Florida’s senator since 2011.
“Only under the Biden administration would they allow a terrorist regime into our secure facilities at one of the busiest airports in America,” Rubio said. “I have asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security why they would be so oblivious.”
Rubio’s response also was echoed Tuesday by Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo. Located northwest of Miami, Hialeah has the highest percentage of Cuban and Cuban-American residents at 74% of any city in the United States.
“While this is a slap in the face to the Cuban exile community, it does not come as a surprise. Biden has shown his true colors as the enemy of the Cuban people time and time again by continually rubbing elbows with the regime,” Bovo said.
“The administrations choice to parade these criminals, the current oppressors of Cubans on the island, on the anniversary of the birth of the Cuban Republic is a deliberate act of disrespect and show of apathy to the plight of those currently suffering on the island,” Bovo continued.
