Rosa María Payá expressed her approval of the U.S. Justice Department's decision to file a civil lawsuit aimed at revoking the citizenship of former ambassador and Cuban spy Víctor Manuel Rocha. She described the action as "a necessary step toward justice and accountability."
In a statement on X, the activist and daughter of Cuban dissident Oswaldo Payá commented that "for decades, Rocha betrayed the U.S. while serving Castro's dictatorship from high levels within the government."
She further noted that her family is pursuing a civil case to hold Rocha accountable for his involvement in "aiding and covering up terrorism linked to her father's murder." "Impunity cannot prevail," she concluded.
The Justice Department lodged the denaturalization lawsuit in the Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida last Thursday. The case argues that Rocha fraudulently obtained his U.S. citizenship in September 1978 by concealing his role as a covert Cuban intelligence agent (DGI) since 1973 and his connections to the Communist Party of Cuba.
Federal prosecutor Jason A. Reding Quiñones characterized Rocha as "one of the most prolific Cuban spies ever discovered in the United States," and described the denaturalization as "finishing the job" following his criminal conviction.
"Someone who secretly served the communist regime of Cuba should not retain the privilege of U.S. citizenship, even while imprisoned," he asserted.
The lawsuit also seeks to void his citizenship certificate, require him to surrender all U.S. documents, and bar him from claiming any benefits tied to citizenship.
Born in Colombia, Rocha had a 25-year career in the State Department under both Democratic and Republican administrations. He held diplomatic posts in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia—where he served as ambassador—and worked with the National Security Council and the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.
According to the FBI, the scope of his espionage was remarkable, granting him access to U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba, migration agreements, government operations, and the identities of officials.
He was arrested in Miami in December 2023 following an undercover FBI operation where an agent posed as a supposed DGI Cuban officer. In April 2024, he pled guilty, and federal judge Beth Bloom sentenced him to 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, stating that he "betrayed the United States for 51 years" and that his citizenship was "a privilege obtained unlawfully."
Rocha is currently serving his sentence at FCI Coleman, a federal prison in Florida, with an anticipated release date of March 29, 2036.
The Payá family's civil case was filed in Miami-Dade in February 2024 by Ofelia Acevedo, the widow of Oswaldo Payá, claiming that Rocha's actions as a Cuban agent directly contributed to the dissident's death.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) concluded in June 2023 that Cuban state agents were involved in the deaths of Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero on July 22, 2012.
Rosa María Payá, founder of Cuba Decide and a member of the IACHR since 2025, insists that the denaturalization lawsuit is another link in the chain of responsibilities that still need to be established: "Impunity cannot prevail."
Key Questions on Rosa María Payá's Advocacy and U.S. Legal Actions
What is the significance of the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit against Víctor Manuel Rocha?
The lawsuit aims to revoke Rocha's U.S. citizenship, which was allegedly obtained fraudulently. This legal action is part of broader efforts to hold him accountable for espionage activities conducted on behalf of the Cuban government.
How does Rosa María Payá view the actions against Rocha?
Rosa María Payá supports the actions against Rocha, viewing them as crucial steps toward justice and accountability for his betrayal and alleged involvement in her father's death.
What was the role of Víctor Manuel Rocha in the U.S. government?
Rocha served in various diplomatic positions and was involved in significant government operations, which allegedly facilitated his espionage activities for Cuba.