Today, Representatives María Elvira Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez, and Nicole Malliotakis sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump asking the Department of Justice to reopen its criminal investigation into Raúl Castro’s role in the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft. The lawmakers urged that charges be considered against Castro and other Cuban officials involved in the attack, including possible Interpol “red notices.”
The letter calls for a review of existing evidence and for authorities to re-examine command responsibility at the highest levels of Cuba’s government. The representatives also asked that all available legal tools be used to hold those responsible for the deaths of three American citizens and one U.S. permanent resident.
“For decades, Raúl Castro and the regime officials who ordered this vile attack have hidden behind the protection of a brutal dictatorship, escaping justice while the families of the victims were left to carry the pain alone. Now we have a real chance to correct this historic injustice,” said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. “We are calling on the Department of Justice to reopen the case, follow the evidence all the way to the top, and use every legal tool available, including international arrest notices, to hold those responsible for the murder of Americans accountable. This was a regime-sponsored military operation approved at the highest levels. The evidence is clear, the responsibility is undeniable, and the era of impunity must end.”
Representative Díaz-Balart stated: “President Trump is a strong ally and a symbol of hope for the brave activists struggling for democracy, while also standing firm against the ruthless dictators that oppress them. Raul Castro has been at the center of the Cuban regime’s crimes for nearly seven decades. February 24 will mark thirty years since the heinous shootdown of two unarmed civilian aircraft in international waters by the Cuban military, under the command of then-Defense Minister Raul Castro. This resulted in the murders of four innocent humanitarians – three American citizens and one U.S. resident.”
Rep. Carlos Giménez added: “For nearly three decades, the Castro regime has evaded justice for the cold-blooded murder of Americans in the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, shot out of the sky while carrying out a humanitarian mission. The evidence is overwhelming, the chain of command is clear, and responsibility leads directly to Raúl Castro. America First means defending our citizens, confronting tyranny in our hemisphere, and ending decades of impunity. The time has come for the Department of Justice to act and hold Raúl Castro accountable for the murder of innocent Americans.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis commented: “For thirty years, the Castro regime has gotten away with cold-blooded murder of American citizens, and it is long past time to hold Raúl Castro accountable for this heinous crime. I urge Administration to reopen this case and deliver justice victims’ families have been denied far too long.”
The lawmakers praised President Trump’s approach toward security and foreign policy priorities related to Latin America and repeated their belief that Raúl Castro should be held responsible.
Attorney General Pam Bondi was also copied on their letter.
Brothers to Rescue was an organization based in Miami that helped locate Cuban rafters fleeing from Cuba during Fidel Castro’s rule; by 1996 its flights had become well-known symbols supporting those seeking freedom from repression.
On February 24th 1996 two unarmed planes operated by Brothers To The Rescue were shot down over international waters by Cuban fighter jets killing three US citizens plus one US permanent resident; this event drew condemnation internationally including from United Nations Security Council as well as confirmation from International Civil Aviation Organization these planes were outside Cuban airspace when destroyed.
Subsequent legal actions included findings by US courts holding Cuba liable for planning attack; convictions such as Gerardo Hernández found guilty on conspiracy-to-commit-murder charges; indictments against pilots plus commanding general; Congress responded with stricter sanctions through passage LIBERTAD Act (Cuban Liberty & Democratic Solidarity Act) in 1996.
Despite findings indicating orders went through military chain-of-command led at time by Defense Minister Raúl Castro no senior official was indicted—nearly thirty years later no high-level official has faced accountability.