South Florida Republicans Urge Trump Admin to Crack Down on Cuba Luxury Exports

Lawmakers call for revocation of federal licenses allowing shipments of non-essential goods to the island nation.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Three Republican members of Congress from South Florida - Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Maria Elvira Salazar - are pressing the Trump administration to review and potentially revoke federal export licenses held by local businesses accused of sending luxury items, not just humanitarian aid, to Cuba. The lawmakers cite a report from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector's office that lists companies authorized under federal licenses to ship high-end goods like Ferraris and jet skis to the island, which they argue undermines U.S. policy toward the Cuban government.

Why it matters

The allegations highlight ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, with some lawmakers arguing that allowing the export of luxury goods to the island nation helps prop up the Cuban government and undermine American policy objectives. This issue touches on broader debates around the effectiveness of economic sanctions and trade restrictions as tools of foreign policy.

The details

The three Republican congressmen, along with other local officials, are calling on the Trump administration to revoke the federal export licenses of companies they say are authorized to ship luxury items beyond basic humanitarian aid like food, medicine, and clothing to Cuba. They cite a report from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector's office that lists companies like Cuba Max as being allowed to export high-end goods like Ferraris and jet skis to the island. The lawmakers argue this undermines U.S. policy toward the Cuban government and that only essential humanitarian aid should be permitted.

  • The Miami-Dade Tax Collector's report that revealed the luxury exports was recently released.
  • The three Republican congressmen made their request to the Trump administration in February 2026.

The players

Carlos Gimenez

A Republican member of Congress representing a district in South Florida.

Mario Diaz-Balart

A Republican member of Congress representing a district in South Florida.

Maria Elvira Salazar

A Republican member of Congress representing a district in South Florida.

Dariel Fernandez

The Miami-Dade Tax Collector who released the report on companies authorized to export goods to Cuba.

Orlando Gutierrez

The director of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, a group that advocates for democratic change in Cuba.

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What they’re saying

“We're also sending jet skis, Ferraris, hot tubs—other things that are not necessities.”

— Carlos Gimenez, U.S. Congressman (CBS News Miami)

“For every item that we send to Cuba, every dollar that we send to Cuba, it actually makes us complicit in the oppression of the Cuban people.”

— Carlos Gimenez, U.S. Congressman (CBS News Miami)

“An illegitimate regime should not be allowed to carry on business in the United States of America in violation of the laws of this country.”

— Orlando Gutierrez, Director, Assembly of the Cuban Resistance (CBS News Miami)

What’s next

The Trump administration is expected to respond to the lawmakers' request to review and potentially revoke the federal export licenses of companies accused of shipping luxury goods to Cuba.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the ongoing political tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, with some lawmakers arguing that allowing the export of non-essential goods to the island nation undermines American foreign policy objectives and helps prop up the Cuban government. The outcome of this dispute could have broader implications for U.S.-Cuba relations and the use of economic sanctions as a tool of diplomacy.