The United States arrested Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of the executive president of GAESA, a Cuban military-run conglomerate, on May 21, 2026, and revoked her lawful permanent resident status [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Morera entered the US in 2023 as a lawful permanent resident, but her status was terminated by the State Department under the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Morera is currently held in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and faces removal proceedings [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. US officials accuse her of managing real estate assets in Florida and aiding Havana’s communist government [3]. Rubio said, "Today, Adys Lastres Morera, a Cuban national with ties to the communist regime in Havana, was arrested following the Department of State’s termination of her lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, at my direction" [3]. He added that Morera’s presence "poses a threat to the United States and undermines American foreign policy interests" [1].
GAESA, or Grupo de Administración Empresarial, is a military-run conglomerate in Cuba that controls key sectors such as tourism, retail, and finance [1, 2, 6, 4, 5]. US officials accuse GAESA of diverting resources and funds away from ordinary Cubans to enrich the regime's elites [3]. Rubio said, "GAESA’s ill-gotten riches are not spent on repairing the collapsing power grid, stocking empty pharmacies, feeding hungry families, or providing for the most basic and essential needs of the Cuban people. Instead, they are used to enrich Havana’s elites and underwrite their ongoing campaign of espionage, subversion, and revolutionary militancy against the free peoples of this hemisphere" [3]. GAESA reportedly accumulates up to $20 billion in illicit funds hidden overseas [3].
Cuba’s leadership rarely discusses GAESA publicly, believing discretion is necessary to counter US trade and financial blockades [1, 2, 4, 5]. Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, condemned Morera’s arrest, accusing Rubio of inciting military aggression and falsely labeling Cuba a supporter of terrorism. Rodríguez said in Chinese, "美国国务卿再次撒谎，企图挑起军事侵略，导致古巴和美国人流血牺牲。古巴对美国根本不构成任何安全威胁。" [5]
While Rubio expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions, he noted the chance of an agreement with Cuba remains low. He said, "We still prefer to reach an agreement with Cuba. Honestly, considering our current situation, the possibility of an agreement is not high. But if they change their minds, we are always ready to help" [5].
