The case of Rafael Andres, a 61-year-old Cuban-American who was sentenced to death for the second time by a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge this past Friday, has drawn attention to the Cubans on death row in the United States.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), based in Washington, there are currently five Cubans facing the death penalty in the U.S., all of whom are incarcerated in Florida.
In total, Florida houses 12 foreign inmates sentenced to death. The five Cubans have been held in prison for decades, ranging from 34 to 44 years, and none have an execution date set.
Foreign Nationals and the Death Penalty
Cuba ranks third in terms of the number of foreign nationals sentenced to death in the U.S., tied with El Salvador and Honduras. The countries with more cases are Mexico, with 44, and Vietnam, with six.
Omar Blanco: The Longest-Serving Inmate
Omar Blanco holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Cuban on death row. He came to the United States during the Mariel boatlift in 1980. His crime occurred on January 14, 1982, in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, where he committed a home invasion and fatally shot a man in front of his 14-year-old niece.
Originally sentenced to death in February 1986, his execution was halted just 14 hours before it was scheduled, allowing time to review new legal arguments. Despite numerous appeals citing intellectual disability and trial errors, the Florida Supreme Court has consistently upheld his sentence.
Leonardo Franqui and Pablo San Martin: The Bank Heist
Leonardo Franqui and Pablo San Martin share a death row sentence for a 1992 bank heist at the Kislak National Bank in North Miami, during which police officer Steven Bauer, working as a security guard, was killed. This crime, along with another violent robbery in 1991, led to their convictions in 1994. Despite ongoing claims of mental health issues, their death sentences have been maintained.
Marbel Mendoza: Premeditated Robbery
Marbel Mendoza was convicted of the murder of Conrado Calderon in 1992. Calderon, a currency exchange business owner, was attacked and fatally shot by Mendoza while returning home with his day's earnings. Mendoza was found guilty of first-degree murder and several other charges, leading to a death sentence in 1994. His appeals, based on jury non-unanimity, have repeatedly failed.
Manolo Rodriguez: A Deadly Dispute
Manolo Rodriguez was involved in a deadly confrontation in 1992 in Miami-Dade County. He shot and attempted to conceal the body of Bárbaro "Bobby" Simón, following a dispute over debts or personal business.
The Latest Case: A Cuban-American on Death Row
Recently, Rafael Andres was sentenced to death for the murder of Ivette Fariñas, a 31-year-old waitress at Miami International Airport's La Carreta restaurant, a crime committed two decades ago. Andres arrived in the U.S. from Cuba in the 1980s. Despite his Cuban origin, the DPIC does not list him as a foreign national, suggesting he may have acquired U.S. citizenship.
Other Notable Cases
A report from 14ymedio highlights that in December 2024, President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates, including Daniel Troya, a man of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent involved in a 2006 Florida Turnpike family murder case. Additionally, the case of Pablo Ibar, a Spanish citizen with a Cuban mother, has received significant attention. Convicted in 2000 for a triple murder in Miramar, Broward, Ibar was re-sentenced to life in prison in 2019, with the decision upheld in 2023.
Florida's Execution Record
Florida set a record in 2025 with 19 executions, the highest since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the country, accounting for nearly 40% of the 47 executions nationwide that year. As of 2026, the state has conducted at least three more executions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Death Row in Florida
How many Cubans are currently on death row in the U.S.?
There are five Cubans on death row in the United States, all serving their sentences in Florida.
Which country has the most foreign nationals on death row in the U.S.?
Mexico has the largest number of foreign nationals on death row in the U.S., with a total of 44 cases.
What is significant about Florida's execution record in recent years?
In 2025, Florida carried out 19 executions, the highest number since the death penalty was reinstated, representing about 40% of all executions in the U.S. that year.