CONGRESSMAN CARLOS A. GIMENEZ CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE END TO COMMUNIST CUBA’S FINANCIAL LIFELINES

MIAMI, FL - Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (R FL) held a press conference alongside Congressman Mario Díaz Balart (R FL), local elected officials, and leaders from the Cuban exile community to reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing freedom and democracy in the Western Hemisphere.

During the press conference, Congressman Gimenez called for an immediate end to oil shipments, travel, and remittances to Cuba. Rep. Gimenez urged Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to immediately halt Mexico's oil shipments to the Cuban regime, which continues to finance and strengthen the dictatorship in Havana.


Congressman Carlos Gimenez said, "The job of government is to protect its citizens. There is no greater America First agenda than ensuring the cancer of tyrannical regimes is eliminated from our hemisphere. The regimes in Castro's Cuba, Ortega's Nicaragua, and Rodríguez's Venezuela have systematically denied their people basic rights while repressing all forms of dissent. With the fall of Nicolás Maduro, and the Castro regime at its weakest point in over 60 years, now is the time to end every financial lifeline to the Communist dictatorship in Havana. President Claudia Sheinbaum must stop propping up the Castro regime if Mexico wishes to continue working alongside the United States of America. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the United States will not tolerate communist dictatorships in our backyard."

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart said, "Just over a year ago, the Biden Administration was appeasing our adversaries, doing everything possible to legitimize anti-American regimes in our hemisphere. What a difference an election makes.

"Today, we are closer than ever to seeing a free and democratic Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. U.S. law, as codified by Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Congressman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, is clear that any normalization with Cuba requires real, democratic change, and that remains essential to our national security.

"I'm eternally grateful to President Trump's bold, decisive leadership, as well as Secretary Rubio, for understanding that America First begins with the Americas, and this is the crucial moment to finish the job."

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Permalink: https://gimenez.house.gov/2026/1/congressman-carlos-a-gimenez-calls-for-the-immediate-end-to-communist-cuba-s-financial-lifelines