Security Concerns After Cuba Denies Visas to U.S. Transportation Officials

On Friday June 24th, Representative Michael McCaul, acting chairman of the House Committee for Homeland Security, as well as Representative John Katko, head of the transportation subcommittee, were denied visas to enter Cuba. The two men, along with other Homeland Security Committee members, were attempting to gain entry in order to inspect the Cuban government’s airline security and screening processes.

According to the report from the committee, after requesting access into the country, the Cuban embassy refused to respond to their request, essentially denying the representatives entry into the country.

Congressional officials met on May 17th with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to address the security risks of resuming U.S. Commercial Air Service to Cuba. During the hearing, Larry Mizell, a TSA representative, claimed,  “The seven Cuban airports currently assessed and inspected by TSA met the international standards adopted by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). In the coming months, and as more information becomes available from DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) on the allocation of frequencies, TSA will continue to engage with U.S., Cuban and industry stakeholders to ensure the security of all commercial flight service between the United States and Cuba.”

Despite Mizell’s claims, Congressman Katko criticized the TSA’s position, sharing his and other government officials concern regarding the actual situation of Cuban transportation security. Among his criticisms were Cuba’s potential outdated screening equipment, use of “mangy street dogs” on canine teams, and insufficient vetting practices for aviation workers. Katko, as well as others on the Committee, were fearful that such setbacks in airline security could allow terrorists and other enemies of the United States to easily enter the country through Cuban airlines. Similarly, Representative McCaul outlined his belief that the plans to open commercial air service to and from Cuba were “unnecessarily rushed,” and that ultimately security shortcuts had been taken in order to achieve the Cuban air service deal.

The Homeland Security Committee and its Transportation Subcommittee are currently responsible for evaluating which airlines will receive service to which airports. This process certainly would require the committee to view how flight service and security screening operates in Cuba in order to assure that the proper safety regulations are in place.

Prior to the 2015 “normalization” of U.S. and Cuban relations, Cuba engaged in a wide variety of activity undermining U.S. security.  Listed as a state-sponsor to foreign terrorism, Cuba was at times allied and in frequently cooperated with with other U.S.-hostile regimes.  Together with Iran and Venezuela, Cuba has been known to assist in funneling money to the Hezbollah, Hamas, and even militarily and financially support the FARC rebels in Colombia. Though Cuba was removed from the state-sponsor of terrorism in 2015, its history of hostility is concerning for any conciliatory U.S. efforts to build better relationships with the country, including negotiating mutual air service.

Any finalized commercial flights between the countries must have the proper safety and security measures outlined in the initial Cuban air service deal. Furthermore, such measures can only be confirmed once on-site inspections of the proposed airports can be completed. If the Cuban government continues to deny the officials responsible for organizing airport service the ability to perform  proper inspections, then the United States faces unforeseeable risks stemming from Cuban access to American airliners.

Ultimately, the lack of Cuban response to Katko and McCaul’s visa requests instills a level of doubt around the true nature of airline security in Cuba. If there were nothing to hide and if the proper screening and security measures were in place, then the government should have no problem allowing Homeland Security Committee officials access to the airports proposed in the air service deal. Yet, the denial only highlights the concerns and claims that the Cuban government’s standard for security is not as it has been represented.