Cuban government delegation tour of secure areas at Miami airport draws ire of county leaders
MIAMI - A tour by a Cuban government delegation of secure areas at Miami International Airport, hosted by the Transportation Security Administration, has drawn outrage from county leaders.
A day later, Miami-Dade officials said they were kept in the dark about it.
"The mayor knew nothing, the airport knew nothing, TSA is a federal agency," said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
"The decision to allow Cuban officials to tour secure areas at MIA was made without the knowledge of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) and took place on Cuban Independence Day - a day that we reaffirm our commitment to freedom and democracy in Cuba in the face of a brutal dictatorship," Cava said.
"As a Cuban American I am appalled by that," said Ralph Cutie, Director of Miami International Airport while addressing Miami-Dade commissioners.
"Yesterday (Monday, May 20th) for approximately five hours, five members of the Cuban government, Cuban officials of the equivalent of TSA received a tour from the State Department," said Cutie underscoring that the delegation toured two areas considered sensitive. "A TSA checkpoint and a TSA baggage screening area."
"The fact that the (MIA) director did not know anything about it, or the mayor or any of us, it's a complete slap on the face," said Comissioner Rene Garcia.
For this colleague, Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, the visit and tour are considered a cultural insensitivity issue.
"We know this is the heart of the Cuban exiled community," said Cabrera reiterating the (Cuban delegation) visit happened on May 20th, Cuba's Independence Day. "(Cuban officials from) one of four countries sponsored of terrorism by the State Department to tour our Airport facility, secured areas, how we screen passengers; how we screen cargo, that's crazy," said Cabrera.
"It's not just about the Cubans, again, this is a national security issue that we need to address," added Commissioner Garcia.
CBS News Miami receive a statement from the Transportation Security Administration:
"TSA works closely with its Cuban counterparts to promote civil aviation security in both countries. Cuban officials did not access sensitive technology or systems. They received a general overview of TSA's security operations, including equipment that anyone screened at the checkpoint may view, demonstrating best practices in civil aviation security, so that Cuba considers implementation of similar measures with similar systems…"
Some passengers traveling through M.I.A were rather shocked.
"I hate to think how they can exploit our security system how to get around our screening," said Mark Riekena
"All this, is concerning it's very concerning," said his wife Nina.
Mayor Cava is demanding explanations, "We need to know how this was approved, we are asking from TSA and from the State Dept. and now we will also reach out to the White House."