Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez joined Cuban Americans from across the United States in Washington, D.C., for a gathering centered on freedom and the future of Cuba. For Fernandez, the moment carried a deeply personal significance, bringing together members of the Cuban diaspora whose families have experienced separation, exile, and the lasting consequences of political repression on the island.
Fernandez reflected on his own experience as a Cuban American and on the connection between Cuba and the community he serves in Miami-Dade County. He said that representing a community with deep Cuban roots gives him a particular responsibility to continue speaking about the experiences of Cuban families and the fundamental freedoms they seek for those who remain on the island.
“As a Cuban American, I carry with me the story, sacrifice, and hope of so many families who were forced to leave their homeland in search of freedom,” said Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez. “Our community knows firsthand the consequences of Cuba’s communist system. We cannot remain silent while millions of Cubans continue to live without the freedoms we are blessed to have in the United States. The Cuban people deserve the right to choose their own future.”
Fernandez has described Cuba’s government as a “murderous communist-socialist dictatorship” and has argued that its political system has oppressed generations of Cubans, separated families, and denied citizens fundamental freedoms. He has also stated his view that the Cuban government and its ideology represent a threat to U.S. national security and regional stability. Fernandez expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he characterized as their leadership and commitment to supporting freedom in Cuba and confronting authoritarian governments.
Fernandez thanked the Cuban Americans who traveled to Washington, D.C., raised their voices, and participated in the gathering. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing to speak publicly about Cuba and the experiences of the Cuban diaspora. “We cannot stop raising our voices for those inside Cuba who cannot freely raise theirs,” Fernandez said. “The Cuban people deserve freedom. They deserve the right to determine their own future and rebuild their country without dictatorship. Freedom for Cuba. Libertad para Cuba.”
