Florida's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, issued a stern warning on Monday: should Raúl Castro travel to a nation with extradition treaties with the U.S., he faces the risk of arrest and extradition, even if his journey is for medical treatment.
"Raúl Castro cannot simply leave Cuba and roam freely," Uthmeier asserted during a press conference at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami. "If he finds himself in a friendly nation with an extradition agreement, for whatever reason, he will end up here. He can't even go for medical care."
This warning follows a state-issued arrest warrant secured against the 95-year-old former Cuban leader. The charges involve conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, tied to the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft.
Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan of Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit signed the warrant on October 16, denying any possibility of bail.
Prosecutors allege that, as the then Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Castro directly ordered the aircrafts' destruction: "Shoot them down over the sea if they appear; do not consult those in authority."
The investigation also uncovered that members of the Wasp Network, operating in Florida, infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue to gather intelligence on their flights, aiding the Cuban military's operation.
On February 24, 1996, Cuban MiG fighters downed two unarmed civilian planes over international waters, leading to the deaths of Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario de la Peña, and Armando Alejandre Jr.. Their bodies were never recovered.
Uthmeier emphasized the broader implications of the new legal action: no U.S. president possesses the authority to pardon state-level crimes in Florida, a stark contrast to federal procedures.
"Should a communist sympathizer return to the White House, they cannot pardon, commute, or immunize these dictators from our state proceedings," he declared.
This move complements a federal indictment filed in May 2026, charging Castro and five former Cuban military officials with seven counts related to the attack.
Federal prosecutor Jason A. Reding Quiñones endorsed the state's course of action, while Uthmeier confirmed the investigation remains active, with potential new charges looming for additional parties involved.
“There can be no future for Cuba that includes the Castros, period,” asserted Florida’s Attorney General.
Extradition and Legal Implications for Raúl Castro
What are the charges against Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro faces charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, related to the 1996 incident involving the shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft.
Can Raúl Castro be pardoned if a new president is elected?
No, state-level crimes in Florida cannot be pardoned by a U.S. president, a significant difference from federal crimes.
What role did the Wasp Network play in the 1996 incident?
The Wasp Network infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue to collect information on their flights, facilitating the Cuban military's operation to shoot down the aircraft.