Representative María Elvira Salazar, who represents a large Cuban-American constituency in the United States, posted several statements on March 18, 2026 addressing both recent protests in Cuba and ongoing issues facing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents in the U.S.
In a tweet published at 17:57 UTC, Salazar referenced demonstrations taking place in Cuba, stating: “El sonido de las cacerolas resonando en toda Cuba es el sonido de la libertad.
Como representante del corazón del exilio cubano en Estados Unidos, lo veo con claridad, la esperanza está más viva que nunca.”
Later that evening, Salazar turned her attention to labor concerns among TSA agents. At 20:08 UTC she wrote: “TSA agents aren’t getting paid, yet they are still expected to show up and work. That’s why hundreds have had to quit and airport lines are getting longer and longer.
These are people who work hard everyday to keep us safe, not pawns for the Democrats game!
This isn’t how you https://t.co/bp5smWTJf4“
She reiterated these concerns in Spanish at 20:20 UTC: “Los agentes de la TSA están trabajando sin pago, y aun así se espera que sigan presentándose. Cientos han tenido que renunciar, y las filas en los aeropuertos no dejan de crecer.
Son quienes nos mantienen seguros cada día, no peones políticos.
La disfunción demócrata está https://t.co/ewbXJeUOZN“
Salazar’s comments regarding the sound of “cacerolas,” or banging pots and pans as a form of protest in Cuba, refer to a long-standing tradition used by citizens throughout Latin America as a peaceful means of expressing dissent. The statement reflects continued unrest on the island and ongoing support from members of the Cuban diaspora community in the United States.
Her remarks about TSA agents coincide with recurring funding disputes in Congress that can lead to federal employees working without pay during government shutdowns. Such periods have previously resulted in increased employee attrition and delays at airports across the country as noted by various news outlets covering prior shutdowns affecting federal workers.