North Miami-Dade News

House Republicans Demand Answers Over Visa Issued to Cuban Communist Official

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Congressman Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA) sent letters to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding information related to Manuel Menéndez Castellanos, a Cuban national who entered the United States through Miami International Airport under a family reunification process on August 15, 2024.

Menéndez Castellanos, a former provincial-level Communist Party chief and a member of Fidel Castro’s "coordination and support team," was issued an immigrant visa by the Department of State based on his status as a parent of a U.S. citizen. He held significant positions within the Cuban Communist Party, including serving as First Secretary in Cienfuegos from 1993 to 2003. Despite his documented affiliation with the Communist Party, the Biden-Harris Administration’s vetting process failed to identify his previous membership and involvement in the Castro regime.

Records obtained by the Committee reveal discrepancies in Menéndez Castellanos's visa application, and the background checks conducted did not flag him as inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which deems immigrants affiliated with Communist or totalitarian parties inadmissible. The letter requests information on Menéndez Castellanos’s case, including his alien-file, details of his U.S. entries, and explanations for the vetting lapses.

Excerpts of the letter to Secretary Blinken:

“On August 15, 2024, Manuel Menéndez Castellanos, a Cuban national and a well-known ‘former provincial-level Communist Party chief who belonged to Fidel Castro’s “coordination and support team,”’ entered the United States at the Miami International Airport through ‘a family reunification process.’ According to press reports, in 1972, Menéndez Castellanos ‘joined the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC) and was later promoted to First Secretary of the Communist Party in Cienfuegos, a position he held from 1993 to 2003.’ Menéndez Castellanos ‘also represented the Cuban regime in international events.’ According to Biden-Harris Administration records obtained by the Committee, based on his status as a parent of an adult U.S. citizen, Menéndez Castellanos was issued an immigrant visa by the Department of State. He then entered the United States at a U.S. port of entry pursuant to that immigrant visa.

“Menéndez Castellanos’s entry into the United States raises serious questions about the Biden-Harris Administration’s application of federal immigration law and the vetting procedures used during the immigrant visa application process. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an alien is inadmissible as an immigrant if the alien ‘is or has been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party, domestic or foreign.’ According to Biden-Harris Administration records obtained by the Committee, in his immigrant visa application and when questioned by immigration officials, Menéndez Castellanos denied any membership in or affiliation with;the Communist party. In a subsequent immigration application document;, Menéndez Castellanos admitted to previous membership in;the Communist Party of Cuba but downplayed that membership.;Accordingly;to Biden-Harris Administration records obtained by;the Committee;, advanced background vetting;of Menendez-Castellano;did not find any information that made him inadmissible under;the INA;

“While ;the INA contains;a limited number ;of exceptions;to ;the ground ofinadmissibility;;it does not appear ;that ;the Biden-Harris Administration even invoked one ;of ;the exceptions ;to approve an immigrant visa for menendez castellano instead biden harris administration immigration officials seemingly ignored menendez castellano s own admission as ;to his affiliation with;;The communist party;;;potentially even more concerning is ;;that security vetting conducted;;by;;The biden-harris administration failed;;To find evidence that menendez castellano was affiliated;;With fidel castro s brutal regime despite overwhelming publicly available evidence;;;Of;;;his long-time;;;and extensive work within;;;That regime had;;;The biden-harris administration bothered;;To conduct;;;;A simple five-minute internet search it would have uncovered menendez castellano s disturbing ties;;;To;;;;The castro regime;;

“The biden-harris administration s inexcusable admission ;;Of;;;menendez-castellano into;;;;The united states further underscores;;;;The administration s lax approach;;;;To national security it also highlights;;;;The biden-harris administration s continued desire;;;;To placate communist regimes;;;And undermine america s values;;;And standing on;;;;The world stage;

“Pursuant;;;;To;;;;;;;;Rules;;;;Of;;;;;;;;house;;;;;;;;representatives committee judiciary authorized conduct oversight federal immigration policy procedures assist committee continued oversight federal immigration policy procedures ask please provide following materials regarding manuel menendez-castellano:

1 Case history information including but not limited alien immigration history immigration benefits applications alien file A-file consular file including all consular notes immigration detention status history

2 Information regarding time date place any all alien entries united states

3 Explanation lapses vetting led administration lack awareness menendez-castellano affiliation castro regime substantive description changes vetting process procedures being implemented help ensure lapse does reoccur

4 Explanation why menendez-castellano own admission membership communist party cuba did subject ground inadmissibility section 212(a)(3)(D) INA”

Read full letter secretary mayorkas here

Read full letter secretary blinken here