LIVE: Florida Senators speak on Cuba after Raul Castro indicted

Raul Castro indicted for Brothers to the Rescue shootdown

Castro faces federal charges including conspiracy to kill Americans and destruction of aircraft for ordering the 1996 attack over international waters that murdered three American citizens and one U.S. resident.

Humanitarian mission targeted by regime

The victims were pilots with Brothers to the Rescue flying unarmed Cessna aircraft to locate and assist Cuban refugees fleeing on makeshift rafts in the Florida Strait.

Military enterprise GAESA controls Cuban economy

Real power rests with GAESA, a military-run conglomerate controlling 70% of Cuba's economy and hoarding $16 billion in reserves while the government claims resource shortages.

Current political prisoners tortured and denied care

Lawmakers displayed photos of Alexander Diaz Rodriguez, a 45-year-old political prisoner starved, tortured, and denied cancer treatment to highlight ongoing regime brutality.

Doctor trafficking generates regime revenue

The regime profits from sending doctors abroad and seizing their wages, a practice sanctioned by the Pan-American Health Organization and World Health Organization.

Maximum pressure sanctions to force regime change

The Trump administration is targeting GAESA with sanctions to economically starve the regime, following the Venezuela model where pressure forced Nicolás Maduro from power.

Cuba poses direct national security threat

The regime possesses 300 drones with 600-mile ranges capable of striking the U.S. southeast, maintains alliances with China, Russia, and Hezbollah, and exports instability throughout Latin America.

Military intervention not ruled out

Senator Scott stated that if economic pressure fails, military options should not be taken off the table to secure freedom for the Cuban people.