The U.S. Department of State announced on Thursday it had revoked the permanent resident status of Adys Lastres Morera, a Cuban national residing in Miami, sending a clear warning to Havana: "No more leniency."
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, Lastres Morera, who is the sister of Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera—the CEO of GAESA (Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A.), a significant financial-military conglomerate within the Cuban regime—has been taken into custody.
The U.S. had sanctioned the executive on May 7 for her leadership role in the organization.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed he personally ordered the revocation of the Green Card, and Adys Lastres Morera is currently detained by ICE pending deportation proceedings, although no criminal charges have been filed against her.
According to the statement, Adys entered the U.S. as a permanent resident on January 13, 2023, and was living in Miami. She was listed as a manager or registered agent for at least two real estate investment companies in Florida: REMAS Investments LLC and Santa Elena Investments LLC.
Rubio accused her of managing real estate assets in the U.S. while supporting the communist regime in Havana.
Before immigrating, Adys Lastres Morera was involved in managing tourist rentals in Havana through Airbnb, including properties known as Casa Verde Habana and Casa Presidente.
The Secretary of State described GAESA as a tool that allows a small elite within the regime to "plunder the remaining resources of the island," amassing up to $20 billion in illicit funds in hidden offshore bank accounts.
Rubio named Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, a brigadier general in the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), as the highest-ranking executive in GAESA responsible for managing these illicit international assets used "not to improve the lives of the Cuban people, but to finance the luxurious lifestyles of the Castro family and other regime elites."
This arrest is part of the Trump administration's escalating pressure on the Cuban regime. On May 1, Executive Order 14404 was signed, creating a new framework for sanctions, including asset freezes and secondary sanctions against foreign entities dealing with GAESA.
The U.S. set a deadline of June 5 for foreign companies to sever ties with the conglomerate, prompting major shipping lines like Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM to halt operations with Cuba in response to these pressures.
Rubio was unequivocal, stating that previous administrations' tolerance policies toward families of repressive regime elites are over: "Under President Trump, we are expelling from our country the relatives of IRGC terrorists and Cuban regime elites."
The Secretary of State issued a direct message to the military conglomerate's leadership: "To the members of the Cuban communist mafia and GAESA, we have a simple message: the appeasement of the past is over. Return the funds you've stolen from the Cuban people, enact reforms to improve the lives of ordinary Cubans, and allow them the freedom, opportunity, and dignity they yearn for and justly deserve."
Understanding US Actions Against GAESA and Cuban Regime
Why did the US revoke Adys Lastres Morera's Green Card?
The US revoked Adys Lastres Morera's Green Card due to her involvement in managing US real estate assets while allegedly supporting the Cuban communist regime.
What role does GAESA play within the Cuban regime?
GAESA is a financial-military conglomerate that enables a small elite within the Cuban regime to control and exploit the island's resources, allegedly amassing significant illicit funds.
What measures has the US taken against GAESA and its affiliates?
The US has implemented sanctions, including asset freezes and secondary sanctions, against GAESA and foreign entities that conduct business with it, to pressure the Cuban regime.