Pedro Jorge Velázquez "El Necio" Responds to U.S. Visa Restriction: "It Has Never Crossed My Mind to Visit That Country"

February 14, 2026

Cuban journalist and content creator Pedro Jorge Velázquez, widely known on social media as "El Necio", spoke out on February 14, 2026, after it became known that the United States government imposed visa restrictions on him for his alleged participation in harassment campaigns against U.S. diplomats in Cuba.

## Washington's Accusations

The U.S. State Department pointed to Velázquez for alleged actions directed at the chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Mike Hammer, including the dissemination of content considered sensitive such as images showing diplomatic license plates and vehicles.

The visa restrictions were announced after Under Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned that Washington knows the identities of those who have participated in harassment acts against the diplomatic mission chief in Havana.

## El Necio's Categorical Response

In response to these accusations, Pedro Jorge Velázquez flatly denied any involvement. "I have never seen Mike Hammer in my life. I cannot 'harass' someone I have never encountered", he stated in messages posted on social network X (formerly Twitter).

The communicator called the sanction "irrelevant" and declared: "It has never crossed my mind to visit that country", referring to the United States. Velázquez presented himself as a victim of political retaliation and rejected the U.S. government's accusations.

## Scope of the Measures

The measures imposed by the U.S. government include the cancellation of current visas, permanent inadmissibility to enter U.S. territory, and the revocation of ongoing migration processes for those who participate in actions of harassment and intimidation against U.S. diplomatic personnel in Cuba.

These restrictions apply to people specifically identified as participants in acts that the U.S. government considers harassment against its diplomatic representatives on the island.

## "I Will Remain Here, in Cuba"

Concluding his series of messages on social media, El Necio stated with determination: "I will remain here, in Cuba, telling the truth about my circumstances, the hardship of these times, making necessary criticisms and working toward a better world".

The case of Pedro Jorge Velázquez adds to the diplomatic tensions between Cuba and the United States, and reflects the complex landscape of bilateral relations between both countries, where cross-accusations and restrictive measures continue to be part of political discourse on both sides.

The situation highlights the role of digital communicators in the current Cuban context and the implications their activities may have on the international relations sphere.