The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently hosted a Cuban delegation at Miami International Airport (MIA), providing a tour of its security operations. The visit, part of international cooperation efforts, included a look at new X-ray technology and general security procedures but did not involve sensitive information. TSA spokesperson Mark Howell likened the tour to a media visit. The agency stated that such visits aim to foster global aviation security and involve reciprocal exchanges with countries like Cuba to manage airspace jointly. However, the visit has sparked significant political backlash. U.S. Representative Carlos Gimenez, along with House Democrats and Republicans, condemned the decision, citing national security concerns due to Cuba's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Gimenez has promised an investigation and potential legislation in response. TSA has since apologized to Miami officials for not informing them in advance of the visit, and agencies have committed to changing protocols to ensure better communication in the future.
🚨NEW: At Miami International Airport with my colleagues @SenRickScott & @MarioDB denouncing @TSA’s dangerous decision to grant Castro regime agents access to our sensitive security facilities. https://t.co/UAbNjIbOwu
🚨NEW: It’s absolutely UNACCEPTABLE that @TSA & @DHSgov granted access to Castro regime agents touring @iflymia. It’s irresponsible & threatens our national security. Accountability is coming. https://t.co/f2C44ZGLeL
Three GOP legislators denounce the Biden administration after a Cuban delegation's visit to MIA earlier this week. Watch the news conference now. https://t.co/80GVU172Df
🚨Watch the press conference live-streamed on my Facebook page with @RepCarlos , @SenRickScott , and I denouncing the Biden Admin’s decision to allow Cuban regime operatives to tour TSA facilities at @iflymia
🚨Watch the press conference live-streamed on my Facebook page with @RepCarlosGimenez, @SenatorRickScott, and I denouncing the Biden Admin’s decision to allow Cuban regime operatives to tour TSA facilities at @iflymia
The Transportation Security Administration said Thursday it has apologized to Miami officials after it gave a tour to a Cuban delegation of its security arrangements at the international airport. https://t.co/BcOA1D9n2m
Here is the TSA apology to @MayorDaniella for not notifying Miami-Dade ahead of time of the visit to federal security facilities at MIA by Cuban aviation authorities https://t.co/aSHKxwJTzO
TSA apologized to Miami-Dade for not informing the county in advance of a visit to MIA by Cuban aviation authorities as part of an effort to share best practices on security, per @MayorDaniella https://t.co/yrpnnsflrj
Today, I met with @dhsgov, @tsa and @statedept to share our community’s deep frustration about the visit of Cuban officials to MIA. The agencies apologized and committed to changing their protocols to ensure we are informed before any other foreign delegations tour our airport.
Maybe @SecMayorkas and the @TSA think it’s okay to let a State Sponsor of Terror walk right into our country and tour sensitive areas and security protocols at our airports, but I sure as hell don’t. Someone needs to be held accountable here, and that’s exactly what we’re… https://t.co/x24AEle5PN
The political reaction to an official Cuban tour of Miami International Airport is outrageous - but so was the U.S. government's cluelessness about the Cuba issue in Miami. My @WLRN commentary.https://t.co/5mG6QmfLFY
Communist #Cuba is on the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism. Yet, President Biden & @SecMayorkas decided it would be a good decision to grant agents of the regime, access to our sensitive @TSA areas at @iflymia — demonstrating zero regard for our safety & security.
Florida Rep. Gimenez says leaders will look into decision to allow Cuba officials tour of MIA TSA facility https://t.co/FQ4OktSvYU
In today's #threatstatus newsletter: Homeland Security gave a delegation from Cuba a look behind the curtain at Miami airport operations, in a move critics say may have given the hostile communist regime inside information on security protocols. https://t.co/khHy021zGE
TSA said the Cuban delegation didn’t have access to “sensitive technology or systems,” but instead got a general overview of security operations so Cuban officials can make improvements to their operations. https://t.co/T7WNRp0Roi
Officials said they work with Cuba to “jointly manage the airspace” between the countries, which includes reciprocal visits to study best practices. Miami International is one of eight U.S. airports that have direct flights to Cuba. https://t.co/T7WNRp0Roi
JUST IN—House Democrats and Republicans Condemn Visit of Cuban Officials to Miami Airport “We shouldn’t have government officials from a country that’s on the state sponsor of terrorism list touring our facilities," Reported by @javmanjarres via @Floridianpress…
TSA hosts government officials and members of the aviation community at U.S. airports to foster a strong global aviation security posture,” the agency said in a statement. https://t.co/T7WNRp0jyK
In this story, TSA spokesperson Mark Howell says Cuban aviation authorities were given the standard behind-the-scenes tour of MIA screening operations that didn’t involve sensitive info. “It’s very similar to a media tour,” he said. https://t.co/rXc4Jhg6PT
U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez promised an investigation, hearings, and legislation in response to Cuban officials' visit to Miami International Airport. https://t.co/nY7BlhfVhg
TSA acknowledged the visit but cast it as normal international cooperation. https://t.co/T7WNRp0jyK
Diario Las Americas reported that the delegation was given a tour of the Transportation Security Administration’s facilities at the airport, including where the agency has new X-ray technology. https://t.co/T7WNRp0Roi
💭 What's outrageous in Miami is the outrage — and TSA's Cuba optics | Commentary by @TimPadgett2 https://t.co/CDFugjmGek