Congressional Republicans Want Cuba to Take Back 21,000 Convicted Felons

Congressional Republicans Want Cuba to Take Back 21,000 Convicted Felons
Jul. 9, 2015 5:33pm Fred Lucas

Amid plans to open a U.S. Embassy in Havana, 19 House Republicans are
calling for another condition on normalized relations with Cuba: taking
back more than 21,000 Cuban felons no longer serving time in U.S. prisons.

"These recent policy changes threaten the safety and well-being of the
American people. Specifically, Cuba has and continues to refuse the
acceptance and re-entry of Cuban illegal aliens who commit crimes in the
United States," the GOP members said in a letter to President Barack Obama.

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cuba's President Raul Castro
during a meeting on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas, April
11, 2015 in Panama City. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
"By failing to negotiate the removal of these dangerous criminals – our
country continues to face threats from those who should have been
returned to Cuba," the letter says.

The complaint by Republicans comes a week after Obama announced the
United States would move forward in establishing an embassy in Cuba as
part of broader normalizations with the communist country.

The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and cites a
report by the Department of Homeland Security's enforcement and removal
operations division, which tracked 21,096 criminals from Cuba in fiscal
year 2012 classified as "ICE Threat Level 1." That's the highest threat
level within Immigration and Customs Enforcement, meaning they were
among the most dangerous convicted of an "aggravated felony," or
convicted of two or more felonies.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2001 that after serving their prison
sentences, these criminals cannot be held indefinitely in administrative
custody. However, the Cuban government won't allow their entry back into
the country.

"This is especially troubling as these criminal, who have been convicted
of felonies are free to roam the streets of the United States," the
letter states. "As a direct result of the Castro regime's blatant
disregard for rule of law and refusal to accept re-entry of these
criminals, they are free to live amongst our general public."

The letter was also signed by Republican Reps. Lou Barletta of
Pennsylvania, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Curt
Clawson of Florida, Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, Stephen Fincher of
Tennessee, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, John Fleming of Louisiana,
Trent Franks of Arizona, Bob Gibbs of Ohio, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Paul
Gosar of Arizona, Andy Harris of Maryland, Jody Hice of Georgia, Mark
Meadows of North Carolina, Ted Poe of Texas, Phil Roe of Tennessee, Matt
Salmon of Arizona, and Lamar Smith of Texas.

Source: Congressional Republicans Want Cuba to Take Back 21,000
Convicted Felons | TheBlaze.com -
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/09/congressional-republicans-want-cuba-to-take-back-21000-convicted-felons/