Justice Department Eyes Criminal Cases Against Cuban Leaders

Prosecutors in Miami consider investigations as Trump floats "friendly takeover" of island nation

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The top U.S. prosecutor in Miami is creating a working group to investigate potential criminal cases against Cuban government officials, according to people familiar with the matter. This comes as President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of a "friendly takeover" of the communist-run island.

Why it matters

The effort reflects the Trump administration's increasingly aggressive stance against Cuba's communist leadership, with the U.S. Attorney's office in Miami - home to many Cuban-American exiles - making Cuba a priority. It also comes as the administration has accused Cuba of not cooperating with American counterterrorism efforts.

The details

Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, has created a "working group" that includes federal prosecutors and officials from agencies like the DEA to try to build cases against people connected to the Cuban government and its Communist Party. It's unclear which specific officials are being targeted or what charges may be brought.

  • In recent weeks, several Miami Republicans have called on the Trump administration to reopen its criminal investigation into the 1996 shootdown of four planes operated by anti-communist exiles.
  • The Trump administration has added Cuba to a list of nations it considers state sponsors of terrorism, citing the country's harboring of U.S. fugitives and refusal to extradite Colombian rebel leaders.

The players

Jason Reding Quiñones

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida who has created a working group to investigate potential criminal cases against Cuban government officials.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has raised the possibility of a "friendly takeover" of Cuba.

Raúl Castro

The former head of Cuba's military who some Miami Republicans believe ordered the 1996 shootdown of four planes operated by anti-communist exiles.

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What they’re saying

“They want to make a deal so bad.”

— Donald Trump (CBS News)

What’s next

The judge in any potential cases against Cuban officials will decide whether to allow them to be prosecuted.

The takeaway

The Justice Department's efforts to investigate Cuban officials reflect the Trump administration's hardline stance against the communist regime, which remains a priority for the U.S. Attorney's office in Miami despite Cuba fading as a major national security threat in recent decades.