ICE Arrests Sister of Senior Cuban Regime Official Following Rubio-Backed Immigration Enforcement Action
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week that federal authorities had arrested Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of sanctioned Cuban official Ania Guillermina Lastres, in Florida.
Rubio said Lastres Morera would remain in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while she faces deportation proceedings. He determined that she was removable under U.S. immigration law after concluding that her presence in the United States could threaten U.S. foreign-policy interests because of alleged connections to the Cuban regime and its military-controlled business conglomerate, GAESA.
According to Rubio and ICE officials, Lastres Morera entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident on January 13, 2023, during the Biden administration. Rubio said he personally revoked her green card after reviewing the allegations surrounding her ties to Cuba’s ruling establishment.
“For far too long, the family members of terrorist organizations, repressive anti-American regimes, and other bad actors who would threaten the national security of the United States have been given a free pass,” Rubio said in a statement.
He argued that previous administrations had allowed relatives of Cuban military officials, Iranian terrorists, and other foreign adversaries to enjoy the benefits of living in the United States while people affected by those regimes continued to suffer.
“Under President Trump, we are removing from our country the family members of IRGC terrorists and Cuban regime elites,” Rubio said.
Rubio Warns of National Security Consequences
Rubio emphasized that foreign nationals believed to pose national-security risks would face consequences in the United States.
“If you threaten the national security of the United States, there will be nowhere on this earth — much less in our country — that you and your cronies can live lavishly,” he said. “We will find you, and we will hold you accountable.”
In a post on X, Rubio alleged that Lastres Morera had been managing real-estate assets in the United States while supporting Cuba’s communist government. He described her as the sister of GAESA’s executive president and accused the organization of controlling significant parts of Cuba’s economy on behalf of the regime.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations said Lastres Morera’s continued presence in the United States could have serious foreign-policy consequences. Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon said Secretary Rubio had determined that she was removable under Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“Allowing Lastres Morera to remain in the country would send a signal that Cuban regime-affiliated networks could continue to access the U.S.’s financial, educational and social institutions,” Condon said.
ICE Investigation and GAESA
ICE said it would continue investigating individuals with alleged connections to foreign adversaries and take appropriate action when national-security concerns arise.
Guillermina Lastres is identified as a senior figure in Grupo de Administración Empresarial, commonly known as GAESA, a Cuban military-controlled conglomerate with influence over major sectors of the island’s economy.
GAESA and its subsidiaries have been linked to Cuba’s tourism industry, remittances and the country’s overseas medical programs. U.S. authorities have described these sectors as important sources of revenue for the Cuban government.
The case involving Lastres Morera is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to scrutinize foreign nationals and individuals allegedly connected to hostile or repressive regimes who maintain financial or other interests in the United States.