EXCLUSIVE: Three members of Congress representing heavily-Cuban-American districts are demanding the Trump administration shut off the remaining commercial «valves» of support for the Communist Castro/Díaz-Canel regime in Havana, after effectively blockading key oil imports in recent days.

The demand from Reps. Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart and María Elvira Salazar, all R-Fla., comes as Cuban despot Miguel Díaz-Canel warned his country is «close to failing» — according to German outlet Deutsche Welle — and that oil supplies, amid the threat of U.S. tariffs on exporters to Cuba, may run out within 15 days.

While Díaz-Canel called the U.S.-imposed oil blockade «genocidal» and «fascist,» Giménez, Díaz-Balart and Salazar saw it as a positive development and said they will demand Tuesday that the Commerce Department shut off the other remaining lifelines to the dictatorship that Washington can control.

Those valves come in the form of export licenses for more than $100 million worth of supplies they say largely go not to the Cuban people but directly to enrich the regime.

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Luxury cars, Jacuzzi tubs and other luxury items remain open to export through licenses given to several Miami-area firms, according to Giménez’s office — which provided Fox News Digital with a 50-page document detailing manifests of goods cleared by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security to be shipped to addresses listed on the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, as well as Marianao and elsewhere.

Giménez, Díaz-Balart and Salazar wrote to Commerce Undersecretary Jeffrey Kessler and Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Bradley Smith, demanding they take action on these licenses.

«[We are] beyond concerned by U.S. businesses currently engaged in disturbing commercial activity with entities controlled by the regime in Cuba, a listed State Sponsor of Terrorism,» the lawmakers wrote.

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«Such activity risks undermining the central objectives of U.S. sanctions policy and contradicts the intent of Congress as reflected in U.S. law, including the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.»

The act represents one of the most stringent sanctions laws imposed on the Castro regime.

The lawmakers told Commerce that the first section of the LIBERTAD Act clearly states that U.S. sanctions are meant to deny economic support to Havana until «concrete progress is made toward democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental freedoms.»

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«Despite these mandates, a number of licenses issued by both OFAC and BIS continue to authorize transactions that ultimately benefit the Cuban regime and its military-controlled conglomerates,» they wrote.

Such licenses also disregard Congress’ explicit will that sanctions are to be «maintain[ed] until a transition government in Cuba is in place.»

Asked about the publicly available manifest document, Latin America policy analyst Andrés Martínez-Fernández said that while cutting off licensed food and medicine exports is sensitive, much of what is typically cleared for export from Miami often ends up in the hands of the regime rather than the people.

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That includes, he said, goods that seem like they would be destined for civilians.

«A lot of these categories of you know like you say expensive cars and even talking about like cement — we’re exporting building products — and everything’s crumbling in Cuba except for the houses of the government officials and their regime collaborators,» he noted.

Martinez-Fernandez added that he does not view the current export situation as any «purposeful oversight» or that the administration is ignoring any potential lever of pressure.

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«The reality is that we’re doing a lot at the moment with when it comes to sanctions and some of these tools in particular,» he said. «It’s not a press-a-button-and-cut-everything-off; you have to go through everything.»

In their demand, the lawmakers say Commerce must conduct a comprehensive review of all active licenses authorizing commercial or financial dealings with Cuban state entities.

«Revoke any licenses that directly or indirectly provide economic benefit to regime-controlled entities, consistent with the restrictions mandated by the LIBERTAD Act [and] enhance scrutiny of future requests for licensing related to Cuba to ensure full alignment with both the letter and the intent of U.S. law,» they wrote.

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Cuban state-owned oil company Cupet refuels a gas station amid the oil crisis there. (Yamil Lage/Getty Images)

While critical of that particular dynamic, the lawmakers underlined that they are fully supportive of President Donald Trump’s and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s «decisive action» thus far against the Cuban regime.

«[We] look forward to your agencies strongly enforcing U.S. sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship and upholding the Administration’s common-sense policy against the brutal regime on the island,» they wrote.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Commerce Department for comment on the manifest of exportable goods.

Police clashed with anti-Israel demonstrators in Sydney during protests against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia, prompting national leaders to urge calm and call for demonstrations to remain peaceful. 

Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for allegedly assaulting officers, after violence broke out Monday evening when authorities moved to clear thousands of protesters gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall.

The unrest unfolded as Herzog arrived in Australia for a visit centered on solidarity with the Jewish community after the Dec. 14 terror attack at a Hanukkah event in Bondi Beach that killed 15 people.

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Herzog traveled to Bondi during the trip, where he met bereaved families and participated in memorial events honoring the victims. In a post on X, he wrote, «Together with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the community’s leader, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, bereaved families, and members of the Jewish community, we united in memory of the 15 victims of the Bondi terror attacks. The terrorists sought to instill fear in the Jewish people—and we respond with renewed Jewish pride, by choosing life and hope.»

Herzog also warned of rising antisemitism during the visit, calling it a global emergency and defending Israel’s actions in Gaza when asked about the protests.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attend a service to meet with victims of the Bondi shooting attack and members of the community, at the Chabad of Bondi, in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 10, 2026.  (Wolter Peeters /Pool via Reuters)

Demonstrations opposing Israel’s war in Gaza and Herzog’s presence erupted across Australia, with the largest confrontation unfolding in Sydney. Authorities imposed restrictions on protest routes and used pepper spray to disperse crowds after tensions escalated.

Police said officers were met with violence and acted to maintain order, while protesters and some politicians accused authorities of excessive force.

Talking to Sky News Australia, former Australian Jewish Association president David Adler called the violence «a disgraceful display,» noting that Australia has a system of law and order and that a court decision establishing an exclusion zone for the protests was ignored by the «radical activists,» which «left the police with an impossible situation.»

Commenting on Sydney police actions against the agitators, Adler said there was some «rejoicing in our community to finally see a bit of pushback from the New South Wales police, because, for two years and a half, almost, there’s been a lack of law enforcement when it comes to the incitement, the antisemitism and we’ve seen the emboldenment and the dreadful incidents which have occurred right across the country culminating (on Dec. 14) with the massacre at Bondi Beach. So maybe we’ve seen a little bit of a flicker of pushback in law enforcement, which we certainly welcome,» he said.

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Police face off with anti-Israel protesters during a demonstration against the visit of Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on Feb. 9, 2026 in Sydney, Australia.  (Izhar Khan/Getty Images)

Andrew Wallace, a member of parliament said, «Australians who live in a democracy have a right to protest peacefully and lawfully,» Wallace told Sky News, «What we saw last night was not peaceful, and it certainly was not in accordance with directions given by police.»

Australian leaders called for restraint and warned against importing overseas conflict into domestic streets.

Mourners place flowers at a memorial at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia Dec. 15, 2025. Australia is in mourning after gunmen opened fire on Bondi Beach, an attack designed to target the Jewish community.  (AAP/Bianca De Marchi via Reuters)

A timeline compiled by the American Jewish Committee notes that the December Bondi Beach attack came after a sustained rise in anti-Jewish threats and violence across Australia, including vandalism of synagogues and Jewish schools, arson attacks and public harassment since Oct. 2023. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry documented more than 1,600 anti-Jewish incidents between Oct. 2024 and Sept. 2025, following more than 2,000 incidents the previous year.

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Israeli leaders have pointed to the Bondi attack as evidence of growing risks facing Jewish communities abroad and have criticized Australian authorities for failing to prevent the terrorist attack.

Las cadenas no se han roto con su salida de la prisión. El régimen chavista de Delcy Rodríguez excarceló a 35 presos políticos este domingo con medidas cautelares condicionadas, pero a tres de ellos los castigó con más dureza al imponerles tobilleras electrónicas para que no escapen y tenerlos más controlados.

Los tres castigados son los políticos opositores Juan Pablo Guanipa, Perkins Rocha y Freddy Superlano que llevan en su pie derecho un grillete electrónico de seguridad como los que ponen a los delincuentes de máxima peligrosidad o los prisioneros de alto riesgo de fuga. Adicionalmente deben permanecer sin salir de su domicilio, lo que se denomina “casa por cárcel”.

El caso de Juan Pablo Guanipa, ex gobernador de Zulia, dirigente del partido Primero Justicia y muy cercano a la Premio Nóbel María Corina Machado, que estuvo año y medio prisionero en el Helicoide, el centro de tortura más grande de Venezuela, ha indignado a todo el país. El recibimiento fue a hombro como un héroe arropado por los familiares y amigos cuando salió del centro de reclusión.

Unas horas después de haber sido excarcelado este domingo un comando de agentes encapuchados y armados volvió a ‘secuestrar’ a Guanipa sin orden de arresto ni motivo alguno. Previamente el dirigente había recorrido en moto con la bandera nacional en alto las calles de Caracas. Ocurrió a las 11:45 de la medianoche del domingo, según denunció su hijo Ramón Guanipa en sus redes.

El ex gobernador zuliano pasó la noche del domingo y lunes en la estación de la Policía Nacional Bolivariana (PNB) de Maripérez en el centro de Caracas y este martes fue trasladado a su domicilio de Maracaibo, capital del Zulia. Su hijo Ramón mostró a la prensa la boleta de excarcelación de su padre donde no aparece ninguna restricción de hablar con la prensa, “sólo dice que no puede salir del país” y que debe presentarse a los tribunales cada 30 días.

El segundo caso de las tobilleras electrónicas la mostró el dirigente Perkins Rocha, asesor político de María Corina Machado, quien también fue excarcelado el domingo en las mismas condiciones que Guanipa como la de permanecer aislado en su “casa por cárcel”, llevar grillete electrónico en su pie derecho, no salir del país y no hablar con la prensa y presentarse cada mes a los tribunales.

Su familia publicó en las redes sociales la foto de Rocha con la tobillera puesta. Y su esposa dijo Rocha tiene tobillera electrónica, pero «sus ideas no», al exigir libertad plena para todos los presos políticos.

El tercer caso de Freddy Superlano sigue el mismo patrón de una excarcelación bajo restricciones duras y arbitrarias como la de vivir en su “casa por cárcel», no declarar a la prensa ni viajar al exterior y andar encadenado con la tobillera.

El chavismo está estrenando el uso de las tobilleras electrónicas con los presos políticos desde el domingo pasado. Las pusieron de moda con los tres mencionados, que sorprendieron a los venezolanos que nunca antes habían visto estos dispositivos electrónicos de seguridad con los detenidos por razones políticas.

Estos instrumentos modernos de castigo inspirados en los que se utilizaban en la edad media ponen en entredicho la política de reconciliación y de paz iniciada por el régimen con el proyecto de Ley de Amnistía que estudia la Asamblea Nacional que será aprobada este jueves luego de las consultas con los sectores vinculados como los familiares de los presos políticos, la iglesia, los periodistas y abogados, entre otros.

El abogado Omar Mora Tosta, defensor de muchos presos políticos, califica de “incomprensibles” las medidas contra Guanipa y Rocha tras excarcelaciones. Quedan más de 600 presos políticos esperando por su liberación plena. Y han liberado más de 420 según cifras del Foro Penal.

El ministro del Interior y Justicia, Diosdado Cabello, comentó que “creyeron que pueden hacer lo que les da la gana” al referirse a Juan Pablo Guanipa. “Se creen intocables, cometieron una estupidez”.

La líder María Corina Machado condenó la detención de Guanipa: en Venezuela hay una “tiranía” y se preguntó «¿No se puede hablar en Venezuela de aquellos que han estado en prisión? ¿No pueden relatar qué es lo que han vivido? ¿No pueden describir el horror de lo que hoy ocurre en nuestro país?».

La Conferencia Episcopal Venezolana se ha sumado a los pedidos: exige la liberación de los presos políticos, amnistía general y elecciones libres.

Obispos reclaman libertad plena para los presos políticos y cambios de fondo al marco legal. Solicitaron la «plena liberación» de todos los presos políticos y dijeron seguir con interés la propuesta de una ley de amnistía, que «necesariamente debe ser amplia e inclusiva» y producto de una consulta con la sociedad civil.

La Comisión Especial que redacta el proyecto de Amnistía para la Convivencia Democrática se ha reunido con diferentes gremios profesionales y sociales, familiares y víctimas de presos políticos para recolectar su opinión. Este jueves la Asamblea Nacional en pleno aprobará la amnistía.

El Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa (SNTP) pide que la ley de amnistía reconozca la persecución a periodistas.

“Es un proyecto que amnistía a personas que han sido perseguidas por el ejercicio de la libertad de expresión», prosiguió. Marco Ruiz dijo que en Venezuela hay actualmente 59 periodistas judicializados, cuatro de ellos aún tras las rejas, dos en arresto domiciliario y al menos 20 en el exilio «como consecuencia de la persecución».