Overview
- The ICE arrest of Adys Lastres Morera occurred Thursday in Miami after Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined she was removable and revoked her lawful permanent residency.
- ICE and Homeland Security Investigations say Lastres Morera benefited from ties to GAESA and that her presence would undermine U.S. foreign-policy goals, and they have opened removal proceedings without reporting criminal charges against her.
- The action follows U.S. steps earlier in May that sanctioned GAESA and came two days after the Department of Justice filed an accusation against former Cuban president Raúl Castro on May 20.
- U.S. officials describe GAESA as a military-run conglomerate that controls key hard-currency sectors of Cuba’s economy, including tourism, hotels, ports and retail operations.
- Havana has denounced the arrest as hostile and the move is likely to raise bilateral tensions and affect migration, aid negotiations and regional diplomacy while U.S. authorities pursue further administrative and legal pressure.