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Julie Banderas looks at the decision to grant Cuba President Raul Castro's daughter US travel visa
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OK sit next to me now is Julie Banderas and just tweeted this -- this is a huge story -- Fox News Latino is covering it and US of represented borrowed the FIR word Republican whose outspoken -- -- we've heard him -- -- war.
Not happy with the Obama administration over something -- a lot of Republicans are not happy with the Obama administration GOP's turning up the heat on the Obama administration.
Attacking them essentially for being soft on Castro's regime because they have just allowed.
A president Raul Castro of Cuba his daughter.
A visa.
To visit the United States next week something that they say it completely goes against all things and constitutional.
And that by allowing her into this country.
You're allowing.
Someone at the head of -- Communist regime into this country Communist regime that.
That treats its its Cuban citizens so poorly and the Florida congressman you just mentioned -- -- -- -- says that.
And I want to quote his his statement here is that -- strong on.
It is -- reprehensible.
Unacceptable and it is greatly irresponsible of the Obama administration to allow these high level Communist Party regime officials to come into the it's the United States on these PR tours.
Pro regime public relation tours I should mention -- Castro esteem it's not the first time that she's been in the country she was actually here back in 2002.
When George W.
Bush was president George W.
Bush was president and -- that in 2002 to attend another conference however.
She will be a schedule to attend this academic conference in San Francisco as well as other events.
And the Obama administration is defending its decision by allowing her that these and fact is turning around believe it or not probably no surprise.
And criticizing Republicans for simply turning this around.
Trying to -- over Cuban Americans.
In Florida.
Obviously -- Cuban Americans are a key group.
A key voting group in a key state.
Well and I don't know if you've seen if this -- we've been talking out on the program -- new quinnipiac.
University a lot of Florida shows the president's in trouble in Florida right now 4740 went right and way outside the other margin of error in that particular poll and I know it's early it's only may.
But what that's indicating is that and we had a democratic strategists on this morning.
Who conceded the fact that it means he's got to be more on the defensive it's gonna cost more money right to fight this battle so as you pointed out not surprising this gets -- political -- we know it's coming down the pike.
You mention though under president George W.
Bush that this woman had come.
To visit before how was this different.
That's a good question and that's the argument that the Obama administration is is is making is that it is no different in fact they came out they released a statement and they -- that the president believes that the promotion of democracy and human rights in Cuba.
He's in the national interest of the United States the statement goes on to say while maintaining the embargo decreasing the dependency of the Cuban people on the -- regime.
Is -- means to obtaining widely shared goal of a Cuba that respects the basic rights of all of its citizens so essentially if we respect you you should respect us you should respect to our people that's not necessarily.
How it works unfortunately when it comes to Communist regimes China.
-- exactly and we're not inviting you know the Communist leaders into our country to -- their children here exactly to appear at these at these conferences to allow them a voice when they don't necessarily want to speak diplomatically when it comes to you know a lot of relations with this country when it comes to mind is the arduous and and very dangerous and and fortunately positively ending journey.
-- recently yes and and coming out of that Communist regime and how this country stepped up yes and it and it took it basically will will take you.
Are open arms you know our harbor our New York Harbor yeah.
Completely different scenario when you have.
The daughter of -- Communist when we're not talking exactly we're not talking about.
A Communist leader this is this is -- -- and then.
That was was trying to escape for the betterment of him and -- family.
He was trying to save his family essentially because they were threatening that his family would be her this so what happens from this point on.
Well at this point -- has been is going to come into the country.
The the Republicans are saying that this violates -- presidential proclamation 5377.
Which prohibits granting non immigrant visas to.
Cuban Communist Party members will -- pretty -- it seems pretty cut and -- the State Department actually is not commenting -- directly on this case.
Fox is -- -- did obtain several statements from the of the president's.
Campaign and and essentially the State Department won't comment directly on the skis but a spokesperson did tell Fox -- Latino.
That there is no blanket restriction on -- us for Cuban officials.
And that's from the state departments -- commenting directly on this case but that's what they have to say about -- -- It'll be interesting I -- and really the state of Florida and Latinos in -- state are very key in as you said the swing state.
It's -- it's a key voting group Latinos Cuban Americans feel very strongly against.
Cuba and the United States granting them any.
At any any any.
Favors essentially and -- by granting -- pastor's daughter.
The right to come into this country when there are so many Cubans Cuban citizens in fact you know what's interesting.
Is that there were several other people who actually were denied the right US scholars in fact Cubans -- ask about reciprocity yes yeah frequent guest I want some Cuban scholars that we're actually schedules to to attend that same event and -- -- it their visas were denied fax seven of them.
Were denied among the scholars denied visas were some who would been permitted to travel to the United States in the house.
So -- Cuban scholars who really have earned the right and should be allowed to attend this conference considering this is what.
You know they wanna make of their lives -- have been denied visas but you know the Cuban officials such as -- Castro's daughter is allowed permission.
Well and I I -- -- my question I called reciprocity that is not exactly what this would be this -- you across the board letting other people committed the country but I wonder if there -- any reciprocity issue I -- or any of our scholars trying to get there and and how would they be treated.
Very issue I think we'll have all Americans can travel to -- easier these days than than in the past used to be back in the day that you used to basically just -- to.
You know sneak on over there we go through a different country well yes there people that go to Mexico and then they hide their visa and then they go right into Cuba and Cuba have no problem really with them sneaking -- it was is that the United States to allow Cuba.
Didn't mind so we send our money where there are exactly yeah okay but it never publicly the united -- real quickly Fox News Latino -- weren't find out -- are because everything is on the line yeah absolutely there's much more on this and some very interesting.
In interviews that fox is -- -- got with with with both sides of this that and Romney obviously speaking out about it as well -- you can.
Read more about this very interesting story that's obviously -- Take a huge role in in a political fallout come November when it comes -- the state of Florida we'll have to see if this really does impact.
The election right now to winning that state over -- the -- that content and I like the way you framed it -- within the context of where we -- history that's really important yes yeah yeah yeah it's always good legend Ian thank you for being here I.
