September 30, 2019
State Representative Cindy Polo
District 103
7900 Oak Lane, Suite 400
Hialeah, FL 33016-5888
RE: Your tweet regarding photo op with the President of Colombia, the Honorable Iván Duque
Honorable Ms. Polo, you wrote as follows:
“But when it really matters, when it really counts, they turn their backs on immigrants like
COLOMBIANS and VENEZUELANS, NICARAGUANS, HONDURANS, etc...To watch CUBAN REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS standing next to @IvanDuque gives a very very false narrative - one that Latinos are
falling for.”
We at FACE, Facts About Cuban Exiles, do not have any problem with a Democrat Representative criticizing Republican officials as we live under democratic principles in the U.S. But was it really necessary to state that those Republicans you object to are Cubans? We do not think so.
Ms. Polo, U.S. Representative Lincoln Díaz Balart introduced the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act, NACARA (Title II of Pub. L . 105–100) a U.S. law passed in 1997 that provides various forms of immigration benefits and relief from deportation to certain Nicaraguans, Cubans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans. Representative Ros Lehtinen voted for it in the U.S. Congress.
This is not an isolated case. Cubans politicians have supported their fellow Hispanics in many other
occasions to this day. Your criticism of Cubans who belong to the other party is particularly striking as 57% of voters in District 103 self-identify as Cubans, and you were obviously elected by a majority of District 103.
We therefore respectfully request that you amend your statement by removing your reference to the nationality of those you oppose.
Best regards,
Aida Levitan, Ph.D.
Chair of FACE
Facts About Cuban Exiles (FACE) was founded in 1982 to defend the reputation of Cuban exiles and Cuban Americans. FACE includes many prominent civic and community leaders who represent a cross-section of the Cuban diaspora in Miami. Its mission is to promote, foster and improve the reputation and image of people of Cuban origin who have sought refuge outside of Cuba due to the existing political conditions, as well as that of their descendants. FACE also endeavors to promote goodwill towards Cuban-Americans and to develop greater understanding and cooperation with other groups in the Miami community. FACE has encouraged fair and balanced media coverage and has responded to biased or erroneous reports. It has published Cubans: An Epic Journey in English and Spanish and regularly publishes information concerning Cuban exiles and Cuban Americans on its website www.facecuba.org. Follow us on Twitter @facecuba and Instagram @facecubanexiles.