Statement From Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez: National Security Of The United States Of America, And The Indictment Of Cuban Communist Murderer Raúl Castro
On February 20, 2026, I sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi calling for justice and accountability against Raúl Castro for the 1996 murder of four innocent men from Brothers to the Rescue who were shot down in international airspace by the Cuban communist and socialist dictatorship.
Today, what many of us in the Cuban exile community have demanded for decades finally appears to be moving closer to reality. Reports now confirm that the United States is increasing pressure on the Cuban regime, evaluating possible criminal charges against Raúl Castro, and making it clear that Cuba can no longer continue operating as a safe haven for enemies of freedom in the Western Hemisphere.
This comes at a critical moment as the Trump administration continues taking strong actions to protect the national security of the United States of America and restore stability in our region. The Cuban dictatorship has spent 67 years exporting repression, instability, political persecution, and alliances with hostile regimes that threaten democracy and freedom across the Americas.
As Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, we have also continued working alongside the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding companies illegally doing business with the Cuban communist and socialist dictatorship while putting the national security of the United States of America at risk.
And I want to be clear: any company illegally conducting business with the Cuban dictatorship in violation of the law will face consequences, including the possible revocation of their Local Business Tax receipt. No company operating in our community should be helping finance or support a regime responsible for decades of oppression, repression, and human suffering.
The Brothers to the Rescue murders were not only an attack against innocent lives. They were an attack against international law, freedom, and the United States itself. The families of the victims have waited nearly 30 years for justice, and millions of Cubans continue waiting for freedom.
As a Cuban emigrant, I know personally what this dictatorship has done to generations of Cuban families. That is why this moment matters. The world is finally recognizing that the Cuban communist and socialist regime is not only a tragedy for Cuba, but also a threat to the security and stability of our entire hemisphere.
Justice delayed cannot become justice denied. The time for accountability is now.
Dariel Fernandez
Tax Collector
Miami-Dade County
