Cuban Exile Grateful for Arrest of Repressive Official in U.S.: "Justice Will Be Served"

Blas Giraldo Reyes, a former Cuban political prisoner sentenced to 25 years during the Black Spring of 2003, expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday regarding the arrest in the United States of former Ministry of the Interior lieutenant colonel Jorge Luis Vega García, known as "Veguita." Reyes holds Vega directly accountable for the abuses committed in Cuban regime prisons.

"It is disrespectful that this man is here," Reyes stated in a video interview with journalist Mario J. Pentón. "These people come to the United States with a script; they are here under orders from the regime, from the dictatorship."

The Cuban exile community is extremely pleased that ICE has detained him. "To the henchmen, I say remember that the dictatorship's time is limited. They will have to pay for the murders and crimes they have committed," Reyes asserted.

Background of Abuse Allegations

Vega García has been accused by former prisoners of Cuba's Agüica and Canaleta prisons of carrying out physical and psychological torture, systematic beatings, and denial of medical care. The arrest of Vega was confirmed on August 5 by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following an investigation by journalist Pentón that included testimonies from direct victims such as Benito Ortega Suárez, Pablo Pacheco Ávila, Fidel Suárez Cruz, and Reyes himself.

Entry into the United States

Vega García legally entered the United States on January 20, 2024, through Tampa International Airport under the humanitarian parole program, along with his wife and child. He later applied for the Cuban Adjustment Act, despite being accused of crimes against humanity.

Call for Justice

The platform Cuban Repressors – Stop the Violence! has documented that the former officer violated international norms, including the Mandela Rules and Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. His repressive record includes beatings, prolonged confinements, denial of medical attention, and political persecution. An ex-official from the Cuban penitentiary system confirmed that Vega was promoted before his retirement, reinforcing his ties to the regime's repressive structure.

The arrest has sparked immediate reactions among exile organizations and Cuban-American congress members, who have demanded a thorough investigation and warned against limiting the response to mere deportation. To date, U.S. authorities have not disclosed the formal charges, but victims like Reyes insist that "Veguita" must be held accountable in a court of law.