Rubio's record challenging repressive regimes questioned after academics' immigration crackdown
Marco Rubio has long been a fierce critic of dictatorial leaders who have stifled speech in their countries and crushed opposition. As a senator, he spearheaded legislation and condemned 'the ongoing repression of dissent' in his parents' native Cuba and repeatedly called for 'expression not repression' in countries like Venezuela.
But now as secretary of state, he's at the center of the government's recent actions to deny visa holders entry into the U.S. or arrest and try to deport people, including a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen. Critics of the administration's measures and those involved in the cases have said they were targeted because of their speech, their support for Palestinians or their criticism of Trump administration policies.
Rubio dismissed backlash last week over the arrest and attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident who helped lead pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. 'This is not about free speech. This is about people that don't have a right to be in the United States to begin with,' Rubio told reporters on March 12. 'No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card, by the way.'
As secretary of state, Rubio has the right to revoke a green card or a visa under a 1952 immigration law, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt recently told reporters, though legal scholars say the government has to prove why it's warranted.
Some experts who have followed Rubio's career see a dissonance between his actions as secretary of state and what he advocated as a senator, especially his intolerance for political repression, undercutting his authority to demand the restoration of democratic freedoms elsewhere.
'It's rank hypocrisy,' said Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Drezner, who has written about Rubio's political evolution, said the secretary of state has done a '180'-degree turn from what he's stood for in his political career.
Drezner said Rubio's hawkishness toward Latin America, and particularly Cuba, is a constant in his political career. 'Maybe the thought is he's saying and doing things that contradict the substance of his critique of Cuba,' Drezner said, 'but if by doing that, he still gets to critique Cuba and have Donald Trump agree with him, maybe that in itself, in Rubio's mind, may be worth it.'
There's no shortage of video, transcripts and legislative action in which Rubio defends democratic principles such as freedom of assembly and vilifies countries that repress those freedoms.
After Sen. Tim Kaine discussed on the Senate floor his trip to Cuba in 2014 — the year then-President Barack Obama normalized relations with the country — Rubio responded with a searing speech saying Cuba was 'good at repression' and exporting it to places like Venezuela. He cited the example of Leopoldo Lopez, the former mayor of Caracas. 'He's sitting in jail right now because he's protesting against the government,' he said at the time.
In 2022, Rubio protested Cuba's participation in the ninth Summit of the Americas because its president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, had 'criminalized criticism' of the government.
In response to questions from NBC News, a State Department spokesperson repeated Rubio's comments that the issue isn't about free speech, adding that while the department doesn't discuss individual visa cases, all visa applicants 'are continuously vetted' by the government.
Although not directly critical of Rubio, the founder of a U.S.-based group that monitors human rights in Cuba said she's wary of what she's seeing happening in the U.S.
The arrests of the immigrant protesters and academics 'is a step backwards in human rights but also in democracy,' said Laritza Diversent, founder of Cubalex, adding it 'sends a clear message: Be careful what you say on social media, or you can be next.'
Diversent grew up in Cuba under Fidel Castro and fled in 2017 when Cubalex, then a Havana-based legal group, became a target of government intimidation.
Dictatorships use the strategy of denying dissenters entry to their countries, she said. If she tried to fly to Cuba for an emergency, the government might deny her entry, as has happened throughout the communist government's history, including what happened to the late famed singer Celia Cruz. She was denied entry to Cuba multiple times, including when her mother was dying.
Regarding the recent Trump administration actions, 'this is the first step towards a society becoming silent before abuses, where people don't dare say what they think to avoid certain consequences,' Diversent said.
Concerns over the visa denials and arrests are not confined to Cuban exiles. Juan Carlos Avita, 19, an aerospace engineering student in Elroy, Arizona, said he cast his first presidential ballot for Trump in November, hoping he'd usher in a new economy.
But the Mexican American student said he's disturbed by the clamping down on free speech and the right to protest. He accepts the need to take steps against those who commit violence, but said immigrants 'bring unique perspectives from across the world' that maybe that could enrich Americans, he said, 'as long as they're following the other laws. They're not hurting anyone physically. They're not damaging private property.'
Rubio 'shouldn't be two-faced when it comes to America, especially [on] Palestine,' said Avita, who said he's come to 'think I made a mistake' when he voted for Trump.
Daniel Pedreira, a visiting assistant teaching professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University, said the steps taken by the U.S. and Rubio's role in them are distinct from what has occurred in countries with repressive governments, because the U.S. continues to have a separation of powers.
Khalil's case is in the courts and a judge has blocked the deportation of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown graduate student from India, who was picked up by immigration agents and accused of spreading Hamas propaganda. Suri's lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, denied Thursday that Suri ever made pro-Hamas or antisemitic statements. In Cuba or Venezuela, Pedreira noted, there would be no pushback or chance for appeal.
Immigration law has allowed the deportations of legal residents, visa holders or foreign tourists for a number of crimes, including crimes involving 'moral turpitude.' Homeland Security, law enforcement and border officials have long had to balance public safety with international immigration and cross-border commerce.
John Suarez, executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba, said the Florida Cuban community has seen terrorists and spies infiltrating the U.S. and torturers and prison guards from Cuba getting legal residence. He noted the recent arrest of Tomas Emilio Hernandez Cruz, 71, a former high-ranking official in the Cuban intelligence service.
Suarez, who's also a human rights activist, said his organization ardently supports free speech, 'even speech we find repugnant,' he said. But he also said he does not see a contradiction in Rubio's actions and his record challenging repressive regimes because the secretary of state has said that he's targeting people who 'occupy university buildings and vandalize them and tear them apart, and hold campuses hostage.'
Rubio still enjoys strong support in Florida's Cuban American community, Suarez said. The secretary of state was greeted warmly by the community at the recent funeral for Lincoln Díaz Balart, the former congressman, which Suarez also attended.
Back in Arizona, 64-year-old Eric Busch of Phoenix, a Trump supporter in 2016, 2020 and 2024, said he has respected U.S. laws since coming to the country from Chile. 'You're here on a tourist visa, a student visa or business, you have to respect the law,' said Busch, a semitruck salesman and naturalized citizen.
He said he agreed with Rubio on Khalil's case. 'He should respect the law and be peacefully protesting. This guy is not peaceful,' Busch said of Khalil, adding, 'If the Cubans want to come and do the same, they should be kicked out as well, or Chileans. I don't care.'
But the history of Cuba's slide to authoritarianism, from the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista to Castro's communist takeover and the party's ongoing control should be familiar to Rubio — and one that should be taken seriously, according to a scholar of Cuban history.
When Castro took power in 1959, he relied on mob mentality and portrayed conditions as 'black and white' to ensure that 'he and his power and those loyal to him would predominate,' said Lillian Guerra, a professor of Cuban and Caribbean history at the University of Florida.
'Marco Rubio as secretary of state should be very aware of the history of the rise of authoritarianism in Cuba and how that really dismantled more than 100 years of the struggle for democracy on the island, as well as the lessons of how Fidel Castro managed to centralize authority and create authoritarianism — the strategies, the means, the enabling,' Guerra said.
'All of those things are very close to his history,' Guerra said of Rubio. 'I don't know how he could sanction what seems to be happening at all levels of the Trump administration.'
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Axios
23 minutes ago
- Axios
Amid backlash, Tesla remained resilient in Texas
Even as Tesla deliveries plunged nationally this year amid Elon Musk's very visible (if short-lived) alliance with President Trump, there was at least one state where Tesla registrations were up: Texas. Why it matters: The registration data, obtained by Axios through public information requests, indicates loyalty to the brand in its home base, including Texas' large urban and suburban counties. The depth of conservatives' enthusiasm for Musk's automobiles now faces a major test amid the absolute meltdown last week between the Tesla CEO and the president. By the numbers: Texans registered 12,918 new Teslas in the first three months of 2025, a period when Musk, who contributed more than $250 million to a pro-Trump super PAC during the 2024 election campaign, was enmeshed in the Trump administration as the overseer of DOGE, the president's cost-cutting initiative. Over the same period in 2024, Texans registered 10,679 Teslas. That's a 21% increase year over year. The intrigue: The spike in Texas registrations came as Tesla was flailing elsewhere. Tesla's vehicle deliveries plunged 13% globally in the first quarter of 2025 (336,681 electric vehicles) compared with Q1 2024 (386,810). Tesla vehicles were torched at showrooms and the brand's reputation cratered. Zoom in: Tesla saw year-over-year improvements in its sales in some of the most populous Texas counties. In Travis County, new Tesla registrations grew from 1,369 in the first quarter of 2024 to 1,424 during the first quarter of 2025. In Harris County, they grew from 1,526 to 1,837 during the same period. Tesla registration grew from 1,316 to 1,546 in Collin County and from 990 to 1,146 in Dallas County. In Bexar County, registrations grew from 631 to 664. What they're saying:"It's homegrown pride," is how Matt Holm, president and founder of the Tesla Owners Club of Austin, explains the car company's resilience to Axios. "And regardless of all the drama going on these days, people can differentiate between the product and everything else going on, and it's just a great product." "Elon has absolutely and irreversibly blown up bridges to some potential customers," says Alexander Edwards, president of California-based research firm Strategic Vision, which has long surveyed the motivations of car buyers. "People who bought Teslas for environmental friendliness, that's pretty much gone," Edwards tells Axios. Yes, but: The company had been enjoying an increasingly positive reputation among more conservative consumers. Musk was viewed favorably by 80% of Texas Republicans polled by the Texas Politics Project in April — and unfavorably by 83% of Democrats. In what now feels like a political lifetime ago, Trump himself even promoted Teslas by promising to buy one in support of Musk earlier this year. "In some pockets, like Austin, you have that tech group that loves what Tesla has to offer, can do some mental gymnastics about Musk, and looks at Rivian and says that's not what I want or might be priced out," Edwards says. Between the lines:"Being in the state of Texas, you're naturally conditioned to think you're better than everyone else in the U.S. And when you buy a Tesla" — a status symbol — "that's what you're saying. It doesn't surprise me that there's an increase in sales" in Texas, Edwards says. Plus: Tesla's resilience in Texas could have practical reasons as well, Edwards says. Texas homes — as opposed to, say, apartments in cities on the East Coast — are more likely to have a garage to charge a car in, he adds. What's next: Musk said late last month that Tesla was experiencing a "major rebound in demand" — without providing specifics. But that was before things went absolutely haywire with Trump and Tesla stock took a bath last week.

Miami Herald
35 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Greta Thunberg Mocked by Israeli Officials After Aid Vessel Seized
Greta Thunberg became the focus of ridicule from Israeli officials and pro-government social media accounts after Israeli forces brought to an end a symbolic maritime mission aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Madleen, a British-flagged yacht carrying Thunberg and other activists, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters and escorted to Ashdod port. Israeli authorities indicated the detained activists would be processed and repatriated; as of Monday, they were in custody. Officials dismissed the voyage as a publicity stunt, while activists accused Israel of unlawfully detaining them. Newsweek has reached out to Thunberg's representatives as well as Israel's foreign ministry for comment. The incident highlights Israel's strategy of publicly discrediting high-profile critics amid its Gaza campaign, and the global struggle over the narrative of the situation. While Israel says that it is letting aid into Gaza, foreign aid agences describe a humanitarian disaster that has intensified during the war waged by Israel since the Hamas attack in October 2023. The Israeli seizure and ensuing mockery of the activists came amid an already polarized debate over the fighting in the devastated territory, where the Hamas health authorities say over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed. About 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, according to official Israeli sources and more than 200 were taken hostage, some still in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Israel's Foreign Ministry derided the mission as a "selfie yacht," asserting that "the show is over" and circulating images of Thunberg being handed a sandwich aboard the vessel. Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled participants "Hamas propagandists" and saying they would be shown footage of the October 7 Hamas attacks during their detention "so they understand what Hamas is." Katz praised the Israeli military for maintaining security. A verified X account associated with FC Ashdod, an Israeli soccer club, posted a mock image announcing Thunberg's "signing" as a striker from Swedish club AIK Solna. The parody post celebrated an "excellent half-season". The Madleen set sail from Catania, Sicily, on June 1, carrying aid including baby formula, rice, medical kits, solar panels, and prosthetics. On Sunday, the Israeli navy intercepted the yacht in international waters about 115 miles (185 km) from Gaza. Shayetet 13 commandos and border units boarded the vessel. Twelve people were aboard, including Thunberg and French politician Rima Hassan, along with journalists, medics, and civil society members. Organizers say the seizure violated maritime law and constituted kidnapping. Israel Foreign Ministry on X: "The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way... The show is over." Defense Minister Israel Katz: "They will be shown the video of the Hamas massacre. Let them see what Hamas is." Greta Thunberg, in a pre-recorded video: "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel." The activists are expected to be repatriated to their home countries in the coming days. Israeli authorities have said the aid onboard will be transferred through official humanitarian channels. Related Articles Iran Threatens to Reveal Secret Israel Nuclear Data: What We KnowGreta Thunberg Says She Has Been Kidnapped by Israeli Forces-What We KnowIsrael Will Block Greta Thunberg's Boat From Reaching Gaza: IDF ChiefTrump Changes Top Middle East General For Strong Iran Hawk 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
More Chaos Plagues New Gaza Aid System
The distribution centers of the much-criticized new aid system for the Gaza Strip were mired in new chaos Monday amid conflicting reports over the weekend that Hamas had threatened to attack workers for the Israeli-backed group handing out food supplies. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a group set up to bypass traditional aid distribution, said Saturday that some of its workers had been threatened by Hamas, the militant group that led the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and controls Gaza. On Monday, Hamas denied the accusations and accused the aid group of lacking neutrality. Shootings near aid distribution centers have killed nearly 50 people and wounded some 300 since the foundation began operations at the end of May. The Israeli military has acknowledged firing near people who had deviated from 'designated access routes' and who did not respond to verbal warnings. Gaza health officials say dozens of Palestinians have been killed trying to get aid. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has razed huge urban areas and forced almost all the enclave's 2 million residents to flee their homes at least once. Israel cut off deliveries of food, fuel and other essential goods to Gaza in March as a way to pressure Hamas, a blockade that ended in mid-May after almost 80 days. Aid groups and some Israeli military officers have warned that the restrictions have pushed Palestinians in Gaza to the bring of starvation. Israel has accused Hamas of diverting aid from humanitarian groups under the previous distribution system, which was managed by the United Nations across hundreds of distribution sites. The U.N. has said there was no evidence that the militants systematically diverted aid. Israel agreed to allow some aid into Gaza last month. Most has come through the foundation, which has four distribution sites that are operated by private American security contractors in coordination with the Israeli military. The U.N. and other aid groups have boycotted this system, and have accused Israel of using aid as a part of its military strategy. On Saturday, the foundation said it was 'impossible to proceed' with aid distribution because Hamas had threatened its staff. In its response Monday, Hamas said the foundation 'continues to spread canned lies' and called it 'nothing more than a propaganda front for the Israeli occupation army.' Yet even beyond the dispute over security threats and earlier attacks on civilians, the foundation's distribution work remained mired in chaos. After announcing the opening of one center Monday through its Facebook page, the foundation posted less than 20 minutes later that distributions were completed and it had closed. The comment section filled with angry reactions to the short notice and opening period. A second post said the foundation had closed another center 'because of the chaos of surrounding crowds, which prevented the safe delivery of aid.' The foundation then closed comments on its posts. Despite the reopening of some aid deliveries, international aid groups warn that Palestinians are still at serious risk of malnutrition. The distribution sites remain hard to reach for many Palestinians, particularly those in the north of Gaza. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said Monday that the average Palestinian was getting only about two-thirds of the necessary daily caloric intake. It added that continuing to impede aid flows could be classified as a war crime. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025