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Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart dies at 70
Lincoln Díaz-Balart, a prominent Cuban American figure and a longtime Republican politician who represented South Florida in Congress for nearly 20 years, died on Monday morning from cancer. He was 70. News of his death was made public by his younger brothers Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., and José Díaz-Balart, an anchor for NBC News and MSNBC. José closed off his MSNBC show Monday with a tribute to Lincoln, remembering him as "a defender of the silenced and the oppressed." "He lived a life of service and did so in the most generous, effective and compassionate way. And for that, and a whole lot more, I'm eternally grateful to him,' José said. Mario first released a statement on behalf of the family announcing Lincoln's death on Monday morning. 'It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Lincoln Diaz-Balart," the statement reads. "Lincoln's legacy of achievements will endure for generations." "Lincoln's profound love for the United States, and his relentless commitment to the cause of a free Cuba, guided him throughout his life and his 24 years in elected public service, including 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives," the statement continues. 'We will miss him infinitely." Born in Havana in 1954, Lincoln and his family fled Cuba after the 1959 Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. Before Castro, Lincoln's father, Rafael, served as president of Cuba's Senate under President Fulgencio Batista. His father, grandfather and uncle had also served in Cuba's House of Representatives before the revolution, according to history archives of the U.S. House of Representatives. Once in the U.S., Lincoln eventually became a lawyer and settled in Miami. There, he launched his political career, distinguishing himself for his focus on the immigrant community, his opposition to the Cuban government and his fight to restore democracy there. Lincoln served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1986 to 1989. He was later elected to the state Senate and served there until 1992. In 1993, he became a member of Congress, representing South Florida until 2011 and serving in the Foreign Affairs and Rules committees in the House. When he retired from Congress in 2011, his brother Mario ran to replace him. Lincoln's legislation included tightening the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which tied the lifting of sanctions to a democratic transition in Cuba, and getting the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act passed, which provided deportation relief to thousands of immigrants who fled violence and poverty in their home countries. In 2003, Lincoln helped found the GOP-sponsored Congressional Hispanic Conference and its nonprofit arm the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute to advocate for Latino communities and "to build up the next generation of leaders," Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference said in a statement. 'I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Lincoln Diaz-Balart's passing. Lincoln was a talented, principled, and dedicated public servant—he was a trailblazer for the Hispanic community in Congress and was instrumental in the fight to free Cuba,' Gonzales said. "Lincoln's legacy and years of public service will live on through the many individuals touched by his monumental life of service." Lincoln is survived by his wife, Cristina; his son, Daniel, and daughter-in-law, Estefania; his grandsons Lincoln Daniel and Edwin Rafael; and brothers Rafael, José and Mario, and their wives, Elba, Brenda and Tia. Lincoln was preceded in death by his first son, Lincoln Gabriel. The family will later announce details for a public memorial mass to honor his life. This article was originally published on
Miami Herald
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Cuban-American Rep. Díaz-Balart fought for refugees in the U.S. Who champions them now?
Former Miami Republican U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart, who died Monday at 70 after a battle with cancer, was a political towering figure in Miami's Cuban exile community — a fierce opponent of Fidel Castro and a devoted advocate for a free Cuba. Sadly, Díaz-Balart is yet another Cuban exile outlived by the communist Castro regime, which today remains in power after 66 years. His life was emblematic of the Cuban exile experience — a narrative of loss, resilience and an unbreakable will to fight against oppressive governments. His fight extended beyond Cuba to Nicaragua and El Salvador, always championing the right of immigrants fleeing tyranny to find refuge in the United States. Unfortunately, no one in Congress today plays that role quite like he did. An unwavering dedication to human rights and immigrant advocacy defined his legislative career. Among his most historic achievements in Congress was codifying the U.S. embargo on Cuba through the Helms-Burton Act, ensuring that only an act of Congress could lift it. He also played a crucial role in passing the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act, a 1997 law that allowed individuals from Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala who entered the U.S. during a period of political unrest in their home countries to apply for a green card and a path to citizenship. Such a law would never get off the ground today. Díaz-Balart was among the first to help establish Cuban Americans as a powerful and influential voting bloc within the GOP, helping shape local, state and national politics for decades, just as President Ronald Reagan, the first to seriously court the Cuban vote, was elected. An intellectual with sharp political instincts, Díaz-Balart was fully fluent in English and became the first young Cuban exile politician to gain recognition beyond exile circles. He initially entered politics in South Florida in 1982 as a Democrat but, disenchanted by what he saw as the party's leniency toward communism, switched to the Republican Party in 1985. He was first elected to public office in the Florida House in 1986 and, then, in the Senate. He ran for Congress and won, representing Florida's 21st District from 1992 to 2011. Today, his younger brother, Mario Díaz-Balart, holds the redistricted seat. 'Lincoln's influence in framing the debate on U.S. policy toward Cuba, centered on democracy, freedom and human rights, cannot be overstated. He was the intellectual giant among our delegation,' former Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who served years with Díaz-Balart, told the Editorial Board. 'He was the author of some of the most consequential pieces of legislation to punish the oppressors of the Cuban people.' Mario Díaz-Balart described him as a 'defender of the silenced and oppressed.' Politics ran through the Díaz-Balart family's blood, as did their fierce opposition to Castro. His father, Rafael Díaz-Balart, was a majority leader in Cuba's House of Representatives. But Diaz-Balart's opposition to Castro was more than political — it was deeply personal. His aunt, Mirta Díaz-Balart, was Fidel Castro's first wife, making Castro, briefly, his uncle by marriage. This familial connection did nothing to soften his criticism of the Cuban regime. If anything, it fueled his resolve. Known for his fiery rhetoric, Díaz-Balart consistently condemned the Cuban government's human rights abuses and authoritarian rule. For nearly a decade, his speeches in Congress often echoed the frustrations and hopes of countless Cuban exiles in Miami yearning for their homeland's freedom. Even after retiring from Congress in 2011, Díaz-Balart never stopped fighting for a free Cuba. Through legal and consulting work, he remained deeply engaged in Western Hemisphere affairs, offering insights and support to initiatives promoting democracy on the island. His passing is a profound loss to the Cuban exile community, particularly to the first wave of exiles who arrived in the U.S. in the early 1960s, and to all immigrants who came to the U.S. seeking freedom and safety. He was a beacon of hope, a voice that never wavered from loudly demanding 'Viva Cuba Libre!' and standing up for what's right. Click here to send the letter.
NBC News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Former Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart dies at 70
Lincoln Díaz-Balart, a prominent Cuban American figure and a longtime Republican politician who represented South Florida in Congress for nearly 20 years, died on Monday morning from cancer. He was 70. News of his death was made public by his younger brothers Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., and José Díaz-Balart, an anchor for NBC News and MSNBC. José closed off his MSNBC show Monday with a tribute to Lincoln, remembering him as "a defender of the silenced and the oppressed." "He lived a life of service and did so in the most generous, effective and compassionate way. And for that, and a whole lot more, I'm eternally grateful to him,' José said. Mario first released a statement on behalf of the family announcing Lincoln's death on Monday morning. 'It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Lincoln Diaz-Balart," the statement reads. "Lincoln's legacy of achievements will endure for generations." "Lincoln's profound love for the United States, and his relentless commitment to the cause of a free Cuba, guided him throughout his life and his 24 years in elected public service, including 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives," the statement continues. 'We will miss him infinitely." Born in Havana in 1954, Lincoln and his family fled Cuba after the 1959 Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. Before Castro, Lincoln's father, Rafael, served as president of Cuba's Senate under President Fulgencio Batista. His father, grandfather and uncle had also served in Cuba's House of Representatives before the revolution, according to history archives of the U.S. House of Representatives. Once in the U.S., Lincoln eventually became a lawyer and settled in Miami. There, he launched his political career, distinguishing himself for his focus on the immigrant community, his opposition to the Cuban government and his fight to restore democracy there. Lincoln served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1986 to 1989. He was later elected to the state Senate and served there until 1992. In 1993, he became a member of Congress, representing South Florida until 2011 and serving in the Foreign Affairs and Rules committees in the House. When he retired from Congress in 2011, his brother Mario ran to replace him. Lincoln's legislation included tightening the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which tied the lifting of sanctions to a democratic transition in Cuba, and getting the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act passed, which provided deportation relief to thousands of immigrants who fled violence and poverty in their home countries. In 2003, Lincoln helped found the GOP-sponsored Congressional Hispanic Conference and its nonprofit arm the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute to advocate for Latino communities and "to build up the next generation of leaders," Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference said in a statement. 'I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Lincoln Diaz-Balart's passing. Lincoln was a talented, principled, and dedicated public servant—he was a trailblazer for the Hispanic community in Congress and was instrumental in the fight to free Cuba,' Gonzales said. "Lincoln's legacy and years of public service will live on through the many individuals touched by his monumental life of service." Lincoln is survived by his wife, Cristina; his son, Daniel, and daughter-in-law, Estefania; his grandsons Lincoln Daniel and Edwin Rafael; and brothers Rafael, José and Mario, and their wives, Elba, Brenda and Tia. Lincoln was preceded in death by his first son, Lincoln Gabriel. The family will later announce details for a public memorial mass to honor his life.
Associated Press
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Former US Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a champion of democracy in Cuba, dies at 70
Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Cuban American who fought tirelessly for a free Cuba and who spent 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives as a member of a politically powerful South Florida family, has died after battling cancer, his family said on Monday. He was 70. His brother, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, said in a statement on the social platform X that his brother was 'a defender of the silenced and oppressed, author of the democracy requirement for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship.' A public mass memorial will be celebrated at a later date, the family said. 'Lincoln's profound love for the United States and his relentless commitment to the cause of a free Cuba guided him throughout his life and his 24 years in elected public service, including 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives,' Mario Diaz-Balart said in the statement. Lincoln Diaz-Balart served in the Florida state House from 1987 to 1989, the state Senate from 1989 to 1993 and represented South Florida in Congress from 1993 to 2011. During his time in Congress, Diaz-Balart significantly affected U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, including codifying into law the Cuban embargo and enacting the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act. The act provided deportation protections and immigration benefits to Cubans, Nicaraguans, Salvadorians and Guatemalans. The Diaz-Balarts have deep roots in both Miami and Cuba. Their father, Rafael Diaz-Balart, was a prominent Cuban politician who opposed Fidel Castro and who founded the first anti-Castro organization La Rosa Blanca. Rafael Diaz-Balart's sister was Castro's first wife, making the younger Diaz-Balarts the dictator's nephews.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Rep Lincoln Diaz-Balart, brother of sitting congressman, dead at 70
Former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., has died at the age of 70, his brother and current House member Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., announced. "Defender of the silenced and oppressed, author of the democracy requirement for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship, and the author of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA). Lincoln's legacy of achievements will endure for generations, and continues the work of the Congressional Hispalic Leadership Institute (CHLI) which he co-founded in 2003," Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart said in a statement about his brother. Lincoln Diaz-Balart served Floridians as a member of the Republican Party. The Cuban refugee first got into politics by "leading the Florida Young Democrats and running an unsuccessful campaign for the Florida legislature as a Democrat in 1982," his congressional biography states. He formally switched his party allegiance in 1985 and was elected to the Florida legislature in 1986. Then, he "sponsored laws strengthening sentences for crimes against law enforcement officers, increasing penalties for drug-related money laundering, providing low-interest loans for home construction, creating a statewide program to combat substance abuse, and establishing disclosure rules for Florida companies doing business with Cuba," according to the biography. White House Will Not Release Visitor Logs During Trump's Second Term He was sworn into Congress in January 1993 and served until his retirement in 2010. That same year, his brother Mario won the election to succeed him in the 21st Congressional District. Read On The Fox News App Diaz-Balart leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Cristina; his son Daniel; two grandsons and three brothers. He was preceded in death by his first son, Lincoln Gabriel. Rubio Signs Declaration To Expedite $4B In Arms To Israel 'Wrongly Withheld' By Biden "Lincoln's profound love for the United States, and his relentless commitment to the cause of a free Cuba, guided him throughout his life and his 24 years in elected public service, including 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives," Mario's announcement said. "We will miss him infinitely."Original article source: Former Rep Lincoln Diaz-Balart, brother of sitting congressman, dead at 70
