Florida Senator Marco Rubio responded on Thursday to the arrest of Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, who serves as the executive president of GAESA, a business conglomerate controlled by Cuba's Armed Forces.
Rubio stated that the arrested individual was "managing real estate assets and living in Florida" while "aiding the communist regime in Havana," until her permanent resident status was revoked.
The statement was posted by Marco Rubio on his official X account and later elaborated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). They confirmed that the arrest took place on May 22 in Miami, following a decision by the State Department on May 20 that her stay in the United States violated the Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to ICE, Adys Lastres Morera is deemed a deportable permanent resident whose presence "poses a threat to the United States and undermines American foreign policy interests." Authorities further noted that her sister, Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, leads GAESA, described by HSI as "the core of the Cuban kleptocratic communist system," which controls up to 70% of the island's economy.
John Condon, the acting executive associate director of HSI, stated that GAESA manages up to $20 billion in illicit assets and accused the organization of benefiting only the corrupt elite while the Cuban populace continues to suffer under the communist system. He also argued that allowing Adys Lastres to remain in the United States would imply that networks linked to the Cuban regime could continue to access American financial, educational, and social institutions.
Rubio declared in his message that "there will be no place on this Earth—much less in our country—where foreigners threatening our national security can live in luxury."
ICE reported that Adys Lastres Morera entered the United States on January 13, 2023, under the Biden administration, and there are no records of her applying for U.S. citizenship or a U.S. passport. She will remain in immigration custody as the deportation process progresses.
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Key Questions on the Arrest of Adys Lastres Morera
Why was Adys Lastres Morera arrested?
Adys Lastres Morera was arrested because her continued presence in the United States was deemed a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, posing a threat to national security.
What is GAESA and why is it significant?
GAESA, led by Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, is a conglomerate controlled by Cuba's Armed Forces, managing a significant portion of the island's economy. It is viewed as a central element in Cuba's communist system.