Nights in Cuba are filled with the sound of families clanging pots with spoons. It’s a mournful rhythm echoing the decline of a failed system. The communist regime that the Castro family imposed is unraveling. The economy is plummeting, people are facing starvation, and resources are dwindling.
After over 60 years of oppression, the regime feels weaker than ever. Having experienced it firsthand, I can attest to that. Currently, I’m the only Cuban-born representative in the U.S. Congress.
This moment calls for a strong resolve from the United States. We’re closer than we’ve ever been to ending the Castro family’s grip on power—but only if we stick to a robust strategy. My message is straightforward: without significant political change, there will be no investments, bailouts, or help for the economy.
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Any discussions with the faltering regime in Havana need to start from a place of strength. Economic assistance should be tied to real, observable changes. The regime must free political prisoners, restore human rights, and dismantle its oppressive structures—elements outlined in the 1996 Libertad Act, which set conditions for lifting the U.S. economic embargo.
Currently, Cuba carries around $46 billion in external debt, and its primary revenue sources have drastically declined. Remittances have dropped nearly 70%, tourism revenue by over 68%, and income from medical exports has plummeted more than 53%. The nation’s deteriorating power grid has left countless Cubans without reliable electricity.
These figures expose the reality of the economic policies enforced by the Castro regime. This crisis isn’t due to outside pressures; it’s a result of years of flawed ideology and mismanagement. For more than 67 years, the regime has enriched its inner circle while depleting the country’s resources.
Thanks to the strategies of President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. has a clear stance towards authoritarian regimes. No economic support should go to dictatorships that oppress their citizens.
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We’ve seen similar strategies yield results in other countries. In Venezuela, constant pressure has revealed weaknesses in Maduro’s rule and initiated negotiations previously resisted. In Iran, sanctions and diplomatic actions have restricted the regime’s destabilizing efforts abroad. When democracies unite and act decisively, authoritarian regimes reliant on external support become vulnerable.
The situation in Havana is no different. The Castro regime needs the U.S. far more than the U.S. needs them. They depend on foreign currency, imported goods, and international recognition. President Trump’s assertive actions afford the U.S. significant leverage to drive change in Cuba.
Every night, countless Cubans protest across the island. In Moron, for example, locals set fire to the Communist Party’s headquarters during a large demonstration.
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The dictatorship has responded in the only way it knows: with repression. Currently, over 1,400 political prisoners remain incarcerated, individuals punished simply for seeking freedom. President Trump has a pivotal opportunity to influence history. If the regime resorts to mass violence as it has before, the U.S. must firmly denounce such acts.
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I encourage President Trump to deliver a stern warning to Havana about the repercussions of continued oppression.
Yet the spirit of the Cuban people shines brightly amid despair. The cries of Patria y Vida grow louder with each passing day across the island.
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To my fellow Cubans, the clatter of pots and pans resonates through the night. Your bravery is seen in this darkness. Your voices travel across the Straits of Florida, reaching the hearts of many who dream of a free Cuba. Each protest, every call for Libertad brings you closer to the freedom you truly deserve.
The long nights imposed by the Castro family are ending. Cubans hold on to the hope of a new dawn.
