Federal Government Acts After Miami-Dade Tax Collector Raised Cuba Compliance Concerns

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez issued the following statement after the United States Department of Commerce confirmed that the Bureau of Industry and Security has launched a review of active export licenses to Cuba and directed the rescission of export authorizations for luxury items, including Ferraris, Aston Martins, Maseratis, jacuzzis, and jet skis.

The action follows concerns raised by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, joined by Congressmen Carlos A. Giménez and Mario Díaz-Balart, regarding export licenses to Cuba. In an April 21, 2026 letter, the Department of Commerce agreed with those concerns and stated that the Biden Administration had granted export licenses for certain luxury items to Cuba, calling those approvals “unacceptable.”Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez issued the following statement:
“I commend President Donald J. Trump and his administration for taking this action to align federal policy with the law.

For months, our office has raised serious concerns about businesses holding local business tax receipts while engaging in Cuba-related commercial activity that demanded federal scrutiny. We acted within our authority, made the issue public, and opened lines of communication with federal partners.

Now, the federal government has taken definitive action. The Department of Commerce has confirmed that BIS is reviewing active export licenses to Cuba and rescinding authorizations for luxury goods that should never have been approved. Ferraris, Aston Martins, Maseratis, jacuzzis, and jet skis are not humanitarian aid. They are luxury items. They do not serve the Cuban people. They benefit a regime that has oppressed its own people for more than six decades.

Let me be clear: food, medicine, and essential goods are one thing. Luxury commerce with the Cuban dictatorship is another.

I want to thank President Donald J. Trump, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, Congressman Carlos A. Giménez, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, Secretary Marco Rubio, and the leadership at the Department of Commerce for taking decisive action to ensure U.S. policy is enforced.

Our office does not issue federal export licenses and does not make federal sanctions determinations. That authority belongs to the federal government. But when local business activity raises serious compliance concerns, we have a responsibility to act within our jurisdiction and ask the right questions.

That is what we did.

Miami-Dade is home to families who know the truth about the Cuban regime. We know the difference between helping the Cuban people and enriching a dictatorship. This action sends the right message: the United States will not allow luxury commerce to be dressed up as legitimate business when it undermines our laws, our values, and our national policy.

Our office will continue to administer local business tax receipts responsibly, maintain accurate public records, and coordinate with federal partners when appropriate. We will continue to protect taxpayers, support lawful compliance, and stand for transparency.

Nearly 7 months ago, we began what many believed was impossible, and today the results are here. Thanks to my amazing team, whose hard work and commitment made this possible.

As Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, I was proud to do my part in defending the values of freedom and justice. We will continue putting the national security of the United States of America first and saying no to these murderous communist oppressors.

The days of privileges for repressors while the Cuban people suffer must come to an end. This is just the beginning. We will continue this fight until Cuba is free.

God bless Cuba and the United States of America.”

Background

The Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office has reviewed Cuba-related local business tax receipt activity as part of its responsibility to administer local business tax receipts under Florida law and Miami-Dade County Code.

The office has issued notices, requested documentation, reviewed records, and taken administrative action where appropriate within its local authority. The office has also maintained communication with federal partners, including agencies with jurisdiction over export licensing, sanctions, customs, and national security matters.

The Department of Commerce’s April 21, 2026 letter confirms that BIS has launched a review of every active export license to Cuba and has directed the rescission of relevant export authorizations for certain luxury items.

This follows prior federal action involving the partial revocation of export authorization for jacuzzis to Cuba, which the Tax Collector’s Office publicly acknowledged as an important step toward aligning export licensing with U.S. law and policy. 

About the Office of the Tax Collector

The Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office is responsible for the collection and distribution of billions in public funds annually, as well as the administration of motor vehicle and driver license services, local business tax receipts, and other essential public services. The office is committed to efficiency, transparency, accountability, and delivering results for residents.

For more information and to view related public records, please visit https://mdctaxcollector.gov/transparency