Scott Demands Diaz-Canel, Maduro, and Ortega be Denied Entry to UN General Assembly

Rick Scott/ The Floridian

There are three regimes that stand out in the Western Hemisphere for their human rights abuses and as threats to US interests—Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Cuba, under Miguel Diaz-Canel, Nicolas Maduro's Venezuela, and Daniel Ortega's reign of terror in Nicaragua, have all contributed to the majority of human rights atrocities committed in Latin America.

On Wednesday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) wrote to President Biden urging him to deny visas to these three dictators and their representatives for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“The U.S. must send a clear message of zero tolerance for these dictators’ oppression and human rights abuses. Allowing Ortega, Díaz-Canel, or Maduro—or their representatives—into the United States would afford them a legitimacy they have neither earned nor deserve," writes Scott.

He then elaborates on how Cuba under Miguel Diaz-Canel continues to remain a state sponsor of terrorism, refusing to implement anti-terror measures and harboring wanted fugitives from the United States, "including a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted Terrorists List."

Additionally, Scott points out the fraudulent election of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, since he imprisoned many of his political opposition. While the administration has already denied Ortega and his representatives entry to the United States, "It would be wrong to undermine your own policy for the sake of the United Nations General Assembly."

The letter provides the greatest detail into Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, whom Scott describes as "a violent thug who starves his own citizens and colludes with terrorist groups in Iran, including Hezbollah." Subsequently, Maduro is also effective head of Cartel de Los Soles, which works alongside the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The Cartel ships FARC-produced cocaine around the world, while providing FARC with weapons.

Wednesday afternoon, Scott tweeted about the letter:

"The US must send a clear message of ZERO TOLERANCE for oppressive dictators and human rights abusers like Ortega, Díaz-Canel, and Maduro. I'm calling on Biden to deny them or their representatives visas into the US for the UN General Assembly," says Scott's tweet, which he also reposted in Spanish.

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.