Miami-Dade County honchos are fuming after a Cuban government delegation was granted a secret tour of Transportation Security Administration facilities at Miami International Airport, with some local officials caught flat-footed by the move on Cuban Independence Day. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed her shock in a statement released after the delegation's May 20 visit, emphasizing the county's staunch support for democracy and freedom in Cuba.
"Like many across our community, I was shocked to learn that a Cuban government delegation was invited to visit Transportation Security Administration facilities at Miami International Airport," Levine Cava stated, according to Miami-Dade County's official release. The County's Aviation Department was reportedly in the dark about the tour, which comes as a slap in face to many residents who mark the day in solidarity with those opposing the Cuban government.
In response to the incident, Mayor Levine Cava has reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to demand an explanation for the lack of communication, and to ensure that the county will be consulted in future decisions regarding access to Miami International Airport's secure areas. Her office's statement underscored the need for vigilance in upholding community security and the principles of liberty that are celebrated on Cuban Independence Day.
James Reyes, Miami-Dade's Chief of Public Safety, did not mince words in his condemnation. "As the son of a Cuban political prisoner, it's offensive that the federal Transportation Security Administration agency would have Cuban officials tour security protocols at Miami International Airport," Reyes blasted in a statement obtained by the Miami-Dade County newsroom. This controversial decision by the Transportation Security Administration—one made without any input from local authorities—struck a nerve with Cubans in Miami, many of whom have personal stakes in the island's autonomy and human rights issues.
The blunder on Cuban Independence Day, a time when the Cuban ex-pat community commemorates the struggle against a regime they view as oppressive, seems to have set off alarms for Miami-Dade leaders. They vow to maintain a close watch on any engagements with foreign delegations at Miami International Airport to prevent future breaches in protocol and judgment.
