Bruno Rodríguez Criticizes Marco Rubio for "Betraying Those He Encouraged to Migrate"

The Cuban regime's well-known cynicism was on display once again as Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla launched a social media attack against U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rodríguez accused Rubio of "betraying" Cuban migrants whom he claims were encouraged to emigrate by Rubio himself.

In a move seemingly intended to distract rather than engage in serious debate, Rodríguez wrote on X: "The U.S. Secretary of State has gone from being a demanding and arrogant senator to an echo and a prominent employee of the White House and the plutocracy that governs the U.S." He added, "He has betrayed those he encouraged to migrate, accusing them of being criminals and murderers. Has he sold out his commitments to secure his current position?" alongside a photo of ICE agents during an arrest.

Historical Context of Cuban Migration

Rodríguez's rhetoric follows a familiar script of blaming the United States and its representatives for the challenges facing Cubans. This ignores the fact that, according to independent estimates by demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos, the Cuban government itself forced over half a million citizens into exile in 2024 alone. The regime's official figures, as usual, downplay the exodus, admitting only about 250,000 emigrants.

Representing a system that has used mass migration as a political escape valve since 1959, Rodríguez accuses Rubio of hypocrisy. Yet, he himself stands for a government that persecutes those who choose to leave, oppresses dissenters, and expels young people from jobs or universities for ideological reasons.

Rodríguez's Ongoing Feud with Rubio

Back in March, Rodríguez had already labeled Rubio as "corrupt, inconsequential, and a blackmailer," blaming him for the "persecution" of Cuban migrants in the U.S. His statements contrast sharply with the reality that many Cubans seek to legalize their status in the U.S. precisely because they were repressed or marginalized by the system Rodríguez represents.

In February, following the expansion of U.S. visa restrictions on Cuban officials involved in international medical missions, Rodríguez again targeted Rubio, accusing him of prioritizing "his personal agenda over U.S. interests." The medical labor export program, essentially a form of labor exploitation, allows the regime to profit while doctors are monitored and separated from their families—an injustice Rodríguez refuses to acknowledge.

Rubio's Stand on U.S.-Cuba Relations

Meanwhile, Marco Rubio maintains that these visa restrictions aim to curb the impunity of a system that oppresses, censors, and exploits its citizens. In his role as Secretary of State, he has been clear that any engagement with Havana must be contingent on real progress in human rights and democracy. "I have no intention of visiting Havana with this regime in power, except to discuss when they are leaving," he stated in an interview.

Despite Rodríguez's arrogant stance, declaring in February that Rubio "will never get the chance" to visit Cuba and was "not invited" because "he knows absolutely nothing about the country," it is clear the Cuban official's rhetoric is an attempt to shift blame for the collapse of a model that offers no future to its people.

Accusing the U.S. Secretary of State of "betraying" Cuban migrants is grotesque when the true betrayal comes from a regime that forces its citizens to flee to live with dignity. The incoherence of these attacks highlights the Cuban government's desperate attempts to divert attention from its own structural failures.

Marco Rubio, a staunch critic of the regime, has asserted that "Castroism poses a direct threat to U.S. national security" and has championed multiple resolutions to sanction Havana for its ties with hostile powers like China, Russia, and Iran. Rubio has also reiterated his support for the Cuban opposition and demanded that any relief or negotiation with the regime be contingent on verifiable democratic changes. "The Cuban regime has repeatedly shown that it will not respect human rights," he declared.