Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart Demand Answers on Visa for Cuban Official

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen continues to offer warnings about communist Cuba. On Monday, Ros-Lehtinen teamed up with fellow Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, the senior Democrat on the Western Hemispheres Subcommittee, to send a letter to Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson demanding information on why a visa was granted to Cuban official Josefina Vidal Ferreiro.

We would like to request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the fact that the Department of State continues to grant visas to high ranking Cuban regime operatives, the three congressmen wrote. On May 17, 2012, we wrote to then-Secretary Hillary Clinton expressing outrage that a visa was provided to Josefina Vidal Ferreiro. Much to our disappointment, we have learned that Vidal was once again granted a visa to travel to Washington, D.C., last month to meet with you.

As you know, Vidal was married to one of the Cuban diplomats stationed in the U.S. who was declared persona non grata and expelled for his activities hostile to the national security. Given her rank at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, her sole mission is to promote the Cuban regimes propaganda, undermine U.S. interests, and justify the brutal oppression against pro-democracy activists in Cuba, continued the congressmen. In addition, she has been at the forefront defending the Cuban regimes unjust holding of a U.S. citizen and harboring U.S. fugitives. With that in mind, we would like you to answer the following questions: What was the purpose and intent of Vidals trip to Washington, D.C.? What issues were discussed during your meeting with Vidal? Can you provide us an update on the Alan Gross case?

These concessions to the Castro dictatorship undermine our efforts to help bring democracy and freedom to the millions oppressed in Cuba, they wrote in conclusion. We are concerned that these misguided decisions to allow agents of the Cuban regime inside our nation are irresponsible and jeopardize U.S. national security.