Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Calls Out State Department for Castro Visas

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the former chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, came out swinging at the Obama administration on Tuesday for giving three Cubans with close ties to the Castro regime -- Mariela Castro, the daughter of Raul Castro, Josefina Vidal and Antonio Castro, the son of Fidel Castro -- visas to enter the United States. Ros-Lehtinen wrote to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on the matter.

Ive written to Secretary Kerry to express my opposition and concern over the State Departments recent decision to grant these three high-ranking Castro regime officials entry to the United States, Ros-Lehtinen said on Tuesday. This is a misguided decision that gives the appearance of normalcy in relations with this murderous regime and sends the wrong message to the 11 million Cuban people suffering under its oppressive rule. It is an affront to the principles of freedom and democracy, and I would urge the administration to reverse its decision and instead push for greater reforms on the island.