U.S. Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez, who represents Florida’s 28th district and was born in Havana, Cuba, used his social media platform this week to address issues of political repression in Cuba and Venezuela.
On November 5, 2025, Gimenez posted a message honoring activists fighting against authoritarianism in Cuba: “Champions of freedom. Campeones de la libertad: Ferrer y Marco Rubio. Cuba será libre por el mérito de tantos que nunca han dejado de luchar en contra de la dictadura asesina y cruel que pisotea a nuestra gente. ¡Libertad para todos los presos políticos! “
The following day, on November 6, 2025, Gimenez condemned the detention of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa by the Maduro government. He wrote: ” The unlawful detention of @JuanPGuanipa, a courageous democratic leader and former governor, is another shameful act by the Maduro dictatorship. His only “crime” is defending freedom and democracy for the Venezuelan people. The United States and the free world must demand”. He also shared a similar statement in Spanish: “La detención arbitraria de @JuanPGuanipa, líder democrático y exgobernador, demuestra una vez más el carácter represivo de la dictadura de Maduro. Su único “delito” ha sido luchar por la libertad de Venezuela. Exigimos su liberación inmediata y la de todos los presos”.
Gimenez has represented Florida’s 28th District in Congress since 2021 after previously serving in both the Florida House of Representatives and on the Miami-Dade County Commission from 2005 to 2011. He succeeded Debbie Mucarsel-Powell as representative for the district and currently resides in Miami after immigrating from Havana as a child.
His recent posts reflect his ongoing engagement with human rights issues affecting Latin American countries with authoritarian governments.
