‘Outrageous’: Cuban-Americans Voice Anger After Daughter of Cuban President Is Granted a U.S. Visa
- Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:04pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuba's President Raul Castro, holds a sign demanding President Barack Obama release five Cuban intelligence agents imprisoned in U.S., popularly known as the "Cuban Five." (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
Mariela Castro, 50, is a gay rights advocate. Coincidentally, she’s also the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro. The first daughter raised some eyebrows today after news broke that she is being granted a U.S. visa to attend an academic conference in San Francisco, California.
The outspoken advocate is, of course, the niece of former president Fidel Castro — a factor that is creating a bit of angst among Cuban-Americans who stand opposed to her family’s rule.
Mariela received a visa from the U.S. State Department and will chair a panel on the politics of sexual diversity at a gathering in San Francisco next week organized by the Latin American Studies Association, an official at her institute told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to discuss the matter. The Web site of the New York Public Library says Castro is also scheduled to talk there on May 29.
The U.S. State Department declined to comment, saying rules prohibit discussion of individual visa applications. A diplomat at the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba also had no comment.
Reaction among the Cuban-American community to the news has been strong. Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, derided the government’s choice to allow Mariela into the U.S. He characterized her as someone who opposes democracy and advocates for Cuba’s repressive regime.
Menendez isn’t alone. Other prominent Cuban-Americans agree with his stance. In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and David Rivera (all from Florida) and Albio Sires (New Jersey) called the decision “appalling.”
“The administration’s appalling decision to allow regime agents into the U.S. directly contradicts Congressional intent and longstanding U.S. foreign policy,” they wrote. “While the Cuban people struggle for freedom against increasing brutality at the hands of Castro’s thugs, the Obama administration is greeting high-level agents of that murderous dictatorship with open arms.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ethoed this sentiment in a video released earlier today, calling it “shameful” that the Obama administration would grant Mariela a visa.
“I think the U.S. government’s decision to grant the daughter of Raul Castro a visa to come to the United States and spread the propaganda of her father’s regime is outrageous and an enormous mistake,” Rubio said. “Not only that, it sends a terrible message to the democratic movement in Cuba, to those brave people in Cuba who every single day resist and speak out against the tyranny of the Castro brothers.”
Watch his commentary, below:
It will not be Mariela Castro’s first visit to the United States. She was granted a visa to attend an event in Los Angeles in 2002, during the administration of Republican President George W. Bush, and also made stops in Virginia and Washington.
Analysts noted that prominent Americans have also been frequent visitors to Cuba. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter came last March, and a bi-partisan delegation led by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, was here in February, meeting with President Castro as well as an imprisoned American subcontractor.
Carmelo Mesa-Lago, the dean of Cuba economy-watchers and an expert at the University of Pittsburgh, said Cuba has long had a large presence at the LASA conference, without sparking much protest.
“Academic exchanges like these are not new, but what’s different in this case is who she is,” he said.
The LASA International Congress, which includes hundreds of sessions on academic topics, takes place May 23-26 in San Francisco, a city closely associated with the history of the gay rights movement. Cuba’s state-run press said Castro will be one of 40 Cuban experts in attendance.
According to the website of the New York Public Library, Castro is also to take part in a May 29 talk with Rea Carey, director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, about international gay rights, as well as sexual identity and orientation in Cuba.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(H/T: HotAir.com)
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BJC
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 6:41pmSo now Obama is shipping in Community Agitators? I guess he hasn’t been able to round up enough idiots in the US to rabble rouse for him. What a sorry POS!!!
Report Post »barbiegirl ny
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 10:46amSorry, folks……unless you‘re on the side of all that’s wrong and evil, this administration will turn a deaf ear. Welcoming a commie, propagandist into this country fits right in with the Obama program. On the bright side, we can all be grateful that Che Guevara, Karl Marx, et al, are no longer alive.
Report Post »lusant08
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 7:08amThis is nothing in compare what we are going to see in the US is Obama get relected soon after you will see Cuban security helping to control any anti communist persons in the country
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 4:34amEveryone thank… the Progressive Socialist… Hillary Clinton!
Report Post »gobnait
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 9:04pmMr. Menendez, when have YOU ever been on the side of the US and our Constitution? By supporting Obama, you oppose democracy and advocate for his repressive regime
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:25pmIt is now time for obama to piss off the Cubans. He had already pissed off everyone else, the Catholics, the Jews, the illegal aliens, Wall Street fat cats, etc.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 9:18pmHe‘s trying to grasp votes that’s it! At any cost! Damage Damage Damage! Pray that he does not win!
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:19pmThe people of Little Havana in Miami would LOVE to have a word with her. Muuhhahahaaaaa! Betcha she doesnt even make it out of the airport.
Report Post »NoVampires
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:50pmThere goes the Cuban vote for Romney. Like Marco needed more fuel.
Report Post »Miami Bob
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:14pmThe Cuban community in Florida has become paper tigers.. They will make a lot of noise for a few days and continue to vote democrat 2012 like most did in 2008. Just recently, Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen publicly praised Fidel Castro and Chaves bragging how wonderful they are. The Miami Cuban community gave the bum a pass and forgave him.. Years ago the old Cubans would have ran him back to where he came from. I for one remember Castro and his Russian pals had a stock pile of missiles ninety mile off our shores waiting to nuke us on a minutes notice.. Giving Castro’s daughter a visa is typical for the progressive Demarcate communist party in Washington
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:04pmIs anyone really surprised that this was permitted to happen?
“The first daughter raised some eyebrows today after news broke that she is being granted a U.S. visa to attend an academic conference in San Francisco, California.”
Report Post »—————————————————————————–
That’s just a cover name for a gathering of like minded communists to discuss how to overthrow this country. She’s probably going to be the keynote speaker.
WISEPENNY
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:58pmPerfect! One more thumb in the eye of the Cuban voters by the left. Keep it up and watch the POTUS widen the gap on a daily basis. Keep senile “Uncle Joe Biden” out there stumpin’ with his really bad acting to go with his idiotic, divisive rhetoric. Is this a calculated implosion or something? Surely no one is as stupid as the big shots running Obama’s campaign right now, are they? Something has got to be up their sleeve. What are we not seeing, here?
Report Post »Micah.Stone
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:50pmOBOZO’s moronic campaign: *******-off one group of Americans after the other…women, Caucasians, fiscally responsible people, Catholics, Jews, people who want a job, traditional marriage supporters and straight people, people who don’t like having a $200,000 share of the federal debt around their necks (and the necks of their children), mothers who don’t abort, mothers who stay at home, Cubans…..
Report Post »synapse
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:41pmThere’s nothing wrong with allowing her to come and visit. She is as free to do so as any other person who meets the visa qualification requirements. Just because she is the daughter of Raul Castro does not mean she should not be allowed. You cannot fairly condemn people just because they are related to someone. Original sin is a sickening idea and she is no more guilty of anything her father or uncle have done than any of you are.
Report Post »Watermain
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:39pmIs it a surprise that an avowed communist would be granted entry to America by this administration? I don’t find it surprising at all,,,
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:29pmWhy am I not surprised.
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:46pmSurprised it’s not Fidel and Raul themselves.
Report Post »Watermain
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:23pmIt will be Raul and Fidel soon, maybe we will be able to buy Cuban cigars soon after…
Report Post »chameleonx
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:21pmBetter a visa than having her in the country illegally. My grandfather Peter Arguelles was from Cuba. I only know so much about Cuba that I cannot make a comment whether I like how the country is run today. There is a lot of the good, the bad, and the ugly in Cuba.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:37pmChameleonx, as a descendent of a Cuban, I find it hard to believe you have no opinion on the situation in Cuba. If you aren’t against communists then you are with them. It is just that simple.
Report Post »chameleonx
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:51pmThe reason I do not have clear understand is because I’m not knowledgeable of the history of Cuba and current environment in Cuba. I do not understand you’re last sentence. If I‘m not against something than I’m for it?
Report Post »HKS
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:21pmDid Obama have anything to do with this? Some splaning needs to be done here.
Report Post »Lesterp
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:15pmJust another day in this administration!
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:11pmI think we are secretly in bed with Cuba. Think about it, morality in this country has gone down the tubes, now to pour salt in the wound we are allowing the daughter of the Cuban dictator on our soil…that’s sick. God please fire Obuma, or get him out someway somehow, PLEASE.
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:43pmRemember, it is San Fransicko. She won’t actually be on our soil. The stench of pee will make her feel right at home.
Report Post »FedUpAlready
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:54pmPlease!!!! Maybe this administration, and, all his Commie friends, are in bed with Cuba, but, not the US.
Report Post »This VISA was issued, by this administration, which equates Commies issuing Visas to other Commies!
Isn’t there anyone in this administration, the least bit reluctant, to invite the enemy to the United States, and bow to Saudi Kings? Just askin!