Cuban-American Congressman Reflects on Emotional Return to Homeland After 64 Years

EXCLUSIVE: Representative Carlos Gimenez, the lone Cuban-born member of Congress, made a significant emotional journey back to his homeland over the weekend. This visit marked his first return to Cuba in 64 years, intensifying his determination to see the island liberated from dictatorship.

As a member of a congressional delegation to the U.S.-controlled Guantánamo Bay military base, the Florida Republican highlighted the stark reality of life under the oppressive communist regime that emerged following the overthrow of President Fulgencio Batista by Fidel Castro in 1959.

The Gimenez family departed Cuba when Carlos was just six years old. The young boy had no idea his path would eventually lead him back to his birthplace as an influential political figure.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Gimenez expressed a newfound vigor in his commitment to see Cuba free from the grip of communist rule. “Now that I visited the only free part of Cuba, I want to make sure that the rest of the island is also free from this communist tyranny,” Gimenez stated resolutely.

Reflecting on his emotional state during the visit, he added, “I was already amped up. Now I’m really amped up. … I’ve always wanted to see Cuba liberated, but now I kind of made a pledge that I’m not going to go back until the entire island is free.”

Gimenez’s memories of Cuba are fragmented, comprising brief flashes akin to snapshots in his mind. However, the emotional weight of the visit surged when he caught sight of the island’s outline from a plane as it approached Guantánamo Bay. He noted, “It dawned on me it was the first time I’d seen it in nearly 65 years – how beautiful it is. It’s just a place that is so special; and to have really, a group of thugs and dictators ruin it – I was somewhat emotional, but then that turned to anger.”

His reflections were tinged with personal history; he imagined his grandparents living in Oriente Province, a region adjacent to Guantánamo Province where he flew into.

Despite the massive emotional resonance this trip held for him, the congressman felt it was impossible to visit his hometown during this congressional delegation. He explained the complicated security situation marking the divide between Guantánamo Bay and the rest of Cuba. Hundreds of thousands of landmines, buried by the regime, pose a deadly barrier much like historical checkpoints found in East Berlin and Korea.

Cuban government officials reportedly engage in routine discussions with their U.S. counterparts concerning the management of Guantánamo Bay. However, these talks do not encompass diplomatic relations, as Gimenez discovered that no meetings had occurred in recent months.

The congressional delegation conducted its visit under the leadership of Representative Mike Rogers from Alabama, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The group was following an executive order from former President Donald Trump directing the detention of certain criminal immigrants at Guantánamo Bay.

In a statement, Rogers emphasized the importance of U.S. border security. He said, “Border security is national security, and I’m proud of the role the Department of Defense has played in protecting our nation and ending the invasion at our southern border.” Current estimates indicate just over a dozen of the 780 detainees at Guantánamo since 2002 are still held there.

During his time on the base, Gimenez learned about the predicament of Cuban workers who remained at the facility. In 1966, these workers had to choose between returning to mainland Cuba or staying indefinitely at the base. Approximately 40 of them remain there today, most in their 80s, living in an assisted living facility designed for those of advanced age.

Gimenez has long been a vocal advocate for ending the oppressive seven-decade-long dictatorship led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, the successor to the late Raúl Castro. A free Cuba, he believes, could foster strong ties with the United States and serve as a valuable partner in the Caribbean.

Given the proximity of Cuba to U.S. territory—it lies only 90 miles from Key West—Gimenez remarked on the national security implications of the current regime’s continuation. He noted that many residents of Florida are keenly aware of these concerns and emphasize the need for a democratic Cuba.

In his interview, Gimenez expressed optimism regarding the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. With political leadership favoring a revamped approach to foreign policy and national security, he believes the situation is ripe for a transition towards democracy in Cuba. “All of the pieces are in place” to expedite this transformation, he asserted.

The congressman concluded with a personal commitment to drive the movement for change, saying, “It’s a question of will. I certainly have the will—this is the time. Now is the time. I just want to make sure that whatever I can do to make it happen.”