Cuban-American Congressmen Request Charges Against Raúl Castro in the United States for Murder

February 15, 2026

Cuban-American legislators in the United States Congress have formally submitted a letter to the Department of Justice requesting that criminal charges be filed against Raúl Castro Ruz, former president of Cuba, for his alleged participation in the downing of two civilian aircraft in international waters in 1996.

## The Official Letter to the Department of Justice

In a letter dated February 13, 2026, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, Carlos A. Giménez, and Nicole Malliotakis urged the Department of Justice to formally consider prosecuting the former Cuban Minister of the Armed Forces. The legislators also requested an evaluation of an Interpol red notice against Castro Ruz. 

## The Incident of February 24, 1996

On February 24, 1996, two aircraft from the organization Brothers to the Rescue were shot down by MiG-29 fighter jets of the Cuban Air Force in international waters of the Florida Strait. Four people lost their lives in the attack: Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña (the three U.S. citizens) and Pablo Morales (U.S. permanent resident). The four men were carrying out humanitarian missions to locate and assist Cuban rafters attempting to flee the island in precarious vessels. The Cessna 337 aircraft were unarmed and were operating in international airspace. 

## Raúl Castro's Responsibility

According to the congressmen's letter, Raúl Castro, who at that time held the position of Cuba's Minister of Defense, would have been part of the chain of command that ordered the attack on the unarmed civilian aircraft. In a recording obtained by media outlets, Castro Ruz is heard boasting of having personally given the orders to shoot down the planes, which according to the legislators constitutes direct evidence of his participation in what they characterize as an act of premeditated murder. ## Current Political Context The request for charges comes at a time when the administration of President Donald Trump has intensified its policy against authoritarian regimes in Latin America. Recently, U.S. authorities succeeded in capturing former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which has generated speculation about possible similar actions against other figures from governments considered dictatorial. Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart has publicly stated his conviction that the Cuban regime "will not survive Trump's presidency," suggesting that Washington could adopt more aggressive measures against the island's leaders. 

## Legal Precedents

The case is based on the United States' extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute crimes against U.S. citizens committed in international waters. The 1996 incident was widely condemned by the international community, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) determined that the aircraft were shot down in international airspace. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights also ruled on the case, establishing that Cuba violated the victims' right to life and condemning the actions of the Cuban government.

## Legal and Diplomatic Implications

Should the congressmen's request succeed, Raúl Castro could face charges for murder, conspiracy, and violation of international aviation laws. Although Cuba has no extradition treaty with the United States, an arrest warrant and an Interpol red alert would severely limit Castro's ability to travel internationally. The measure could also have significant implications for relations between the United States and Cuba, which are already at their lowest point since the diplomatic thaw of the Obama era.