“We know who they are and where they are, and I will shut down businesses transacting with the murderous Cuban communist dictatorship"

As Tax Collector of Miami-Dade County, I will be cracking down on businesses that illegally engage in commerce with the murderous communist regime in Cuba. Florida law is clear. State Statute 205.0532 provides that any local governing authority may revoke or refuse to renew a business tax receipt if the business or its parent company is doing business with Cuba.

Miami-Dade County Code Administrative Order No. 3-13, under the authority of Section 4.02 of the Metropolitan Dade County Charter and Ordinance 93-45, mandates that the Tax Collector shall revoke or refuse to renew Occupational Licenses (Local Business Tax Receipts) of any individual, business, or entity that engages in business with Cuba in violation of federal law specifically upon written confirmation from Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) that the entity lacks a valid federal license or has had such license revoked or suspended without successful appeal.

This has been happening for far too long, but the time is now. Since taking office, my commitment has been clear: to enforce the law, protect the people of Miami-Dade County, and put an end to these unlawful practices once and for all. Miami-Dade County will no longer be a safe haven for accomplices of the murderous communist socialist regime. Any business or individual that dares to collaborate with or contribute to the maintenance of that dictatorship will pay the consequences. We will not allow businesses that profit from the pain and suffering of the Cuban people to operate freely here.

My office will be sending letters to violators in the coming weeks, and I will work closely with members of the Miami-Dade County Commission, our municipal partners, local authorities, and state authorities to strengthen our laws and ensure Miami-Dade fully utilizes the authority granted under state law. If you do not comply, our enforcement unit will begin closing these businesses in any part of Miami-Dade County. Let me be clear: we know who they are and where they are, and we will take every necessary action to protect our community and uphold the rule of law.

As a Cuban emigrant, I know firsthand the pain and suffering that this dictatorship has inflicted on our people. The Cuban communist regime has been, is, and will continue to be a danger to the national security of the United States of America, and we cannot allow anyone in our community to risk our survival. That is why I will do everything in my power to enforce the laws of the United States of America, the State of Florida, and Miami-Dade County, to protect our community and to put an end to these unlawful practices, as well as the financing of the communist dictatorship from Miami-Dade County. The time is now.

God bless Miami-Dade County. God bless the people of Cuba. God bless the United States of America.

Dariel Fernandez

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector