Mario Diaz-Balart Calls Out Obama's Cuba Policies

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., hammered the Obama administrations handling of Cuban affairs on Friday after reports emerged that 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 -- had been granted visas to enter the United States.

"It is outrageous that the Obama administration once again has granted U.S. entry visas to high-level Cuban operatives Mariela Castro, Josefina Vidal, and Antonio Castro, Diaz-Balart said on Friday. The same regime that brutally oppresses activists, violates international sanctions to provide weapons to North Korea, and continues to imprison U.S. humanitarian worker Alan Gross should not be rewarded with U.S. visits.

I strongly urge the administration to abandon its misguided decision to engage with the Cuban people's oppressors, Diaz-Balart added. Instead, it should redouble efforts to support civil society, democracy, and Cuba's true leaders who are courageously striving against the dictatorship to achieve liberty and basic human rights for the Cuban people.