Florida

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Meets With Opposition Leaders From Venezuela, Cuba

Scott spent about an hour speaking with former Venezuelan political prisoner and mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma.

What to Know

  • Scott spent about an hour speaking with former Venezuelan political prisoner and mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma
  • Members of the Cuban exile community also joined in on the meeting, including Rosa Maria Paya

Florida Gov. Rick Scott met privately Sunday with opposition leaders from Venezuela and Cuba.

The meeting took place at a hotel in Doral, a city which has become the heart of the Venezuelan exile community.

"Unfortunately we have seen so many people come to our state from other countries because they’ve been persecuted, because they don’t have liberties, because they don’t have democracy," Scott told reporters after the meeting.

Scott spent about an hour speaking with former Venezuelan political prisoner and mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma.

Ledezma said that among other requests, he asked Scott to assist with speeding up the process for political refugees seeking temporary asylum in the United States.

"We as Floridians and as Americans got to stand for liberties and peace, democracy, we got to do everything we can to help these individuals that are suffering," Scott said.

Members of the Cuban exile community also joined in on the meeting, including Rosa Maria Paya.

Scott said he will use what's left of his term to look for ways to help the people of Venezuela and Cuba, including encouraging the governors of other states to also take action against the regimes.

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