Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis Calls for Federal Review of Cuba Export Licenses at PortMiami Press Conference

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis stood alongside Congressman Carlos Gimenez, Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, City of Miami Commissioners Ralph Rosado and Miguel Angel Gabela, and Cuban exile leaders at PortMiami today to call for an immediate federal review and shutdown of export licenses to Cuba that appear inconsistent with humanitarian intent.

“The United States must deny the regime the resources it uses to maintain control over the Cuban people,” said Commissioner Milian Orbis.

Citing President Trump’s January Executive Order declaring the Cuban regime a national security threat, the Commissioner pointed to newly disclosed export filings showing billions of dollars in licensed shipments, including luxury vehicles, heavy commercial trucks, industrial equipment, and massive alcohol exports.

“In addition to the Ferraris, jet skis, and Jacuzzis that have already been reported, filings reference billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese-made Dongfeng tractor trailers, Freightliner trucks, buses, motorcycles, RVs, refrigerated containers, cargo equipment, and other large commercial shipments,” she said. “They also reference massive quantities of alcohol valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.”

“These are not food and medicine shipments. These are industrial-scale authorizations,” she said. “How can this be humanitarian when ordinary Cubans cannot legally control or own these goods?”

The Miami-Dade Commission previously approved, unanimously, a resolution led by Commissioner Milian Orbis calling for stronger enforcement against loopholes in export oversight.

She also announced she is working on legislation to strengthen County oversight and reinforce appropriate diligence in contracts, grants, and other engagements with companies that may warrant additional review.

“Miami-Dade taxpayers should not be subsidizing companies whose actions contradict U.S. policy,” she said. “If our policy is zero tolerance for the Cuban regime, then these licenses must be reviewed and shut down.”