U.S. Representative Mario Díaz-Balart, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, State Department, and Related Programs, said on May 20 that the formal indictment against Raúl Castro marks the beginning of a journey toward justice for victims who have waited decades.
The statement follows news of an indictment against Raúl Castro related to the deaths of three U.S. citizens and one legal permanent resident. Díaz-Balart said previous administrations failed to seek justice for these individuals.
“For decades, previous Administrations ignored the pursuit of justice for the three American citizens and a legal permanent resident who were brutally and unjustifiably murdered under direct orders from Raúl Castro,” Díaz-Balart said. “Those four innocents, flying defenseless in their Cessna planes, never had a chance when Castro ordered his Cuban Air Force MiG fighter jets to ambush and kill 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 is possible thanks to decisive actions by President Trump and the determination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones.”
Díaz-Balart has served in Congress representing Florida’s 26th District since 2003; he previously served in both chambers of Florida’s state legislature according to Wikipedia. He was born in Fort Lauderdale in 1961, is currently 61 years old, lives in Miami according to Wikipedia, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida according to Wikipedia.
The announcement underscores ongoing efforts by some lawmakers seeking accountability for past acts involving U.S. citizens abroad.
