U.S.-based lawmakers, exile leaders urge reactivating prosecution of Raúl Castro and tighter Cuba restrictions

During a Martín Noticias broadcast, hosts and participants reported that U.S. congressmembers urged U.S. authorities to consider reactivating a long‑standing U.S. prosecution against Raúl Castro and to pursue broader restrictions on economic ties with Cuba.

The program said the congressmembers named during the segment were Mario Díaz Ballar, María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Jiménez. Speakers on the program argued those steps could include suspending remittances, inhibiting travel to and from Cuba and restricting business licenses linked to the Cuban regime as a way to prevent funds or goods reaching military‑controlled enterprises.

Why this matters: Guests on the program invoked the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, which the speakers said killed three U.S. citizens and a U.S. resident, and noted that U.S. Department of Justice investigators previously pursued charges connected to that incident. Program participants said the Clinton administration shelved earlier efforts and that, according to remarks aired, the relevant U.S. murder charge has no statute of limitations under U.S. law and therefore could be revisited.

Details from the program: An on‑air speaker compared Cuba to Venezuela, noting that Nicolás Maduro has been the subject of U.S. criminal charges and a publicly announced reward; the speaker argued similar legal pressure could be used against Cuban leaders. The program also noted that the pilot identified in the program as Luis Raúl González Pardo Rodríguez is reportedly in U.S. custody and faces U.S. prosecution and a possible sentence of up to 15 years, according to the broadcast’s account of prior reporting.

What was proposed: Guests and the host described requests made to the U.S. executive branch, including asking the Department of Justice to "reactivate" prosecution efforts relating to the 1996 incident and urging the administration to suspend remittances, passenger travel and licenses tied to commerce with Cuba until federal reviews or audits verify those channels are not enriching military‑controlled firms.

What the program did not establish: The broadcast relayed proposals and statements by speakers; it did not report a federal filing or an announced DOJ reopening of an investigation at the time of the program. Specific legal filings, timelines and which federal officials would take action were not specified in the segment.

Next steps noted: The host said analysts would appear on a future episode to discuss the legal pathways by which such prosecutions or license suspensions could occur and that the program would continue covering developments.