MEDIA ADVISORY: Díaz-Balart, Salazar, and Giménez Mark 30 Years Since Brothers to the Rescue Shootdown, Make the Case for Indicting Raúl Castro

Hialeah Gardens, FL – U.S. Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28) will be joined by family members of the victims and leaders of the Cuban American exile community to mark the 30^th year since the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, honoring the memory of Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos A. Costa, Mario M. de la Peña, and Pablo Morales and to make the case for indicting Raúl Castro.

Last week, U.S. Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump asking that his administration consider indicting Raul Castro for his involvement in the 1996 shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft which resulted in four murders in cold blood.

Read the full letter here.

WHO:

• Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation and Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee on House Appropriations
• Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
• Congressman Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security
• Family members of the victims
• Cuban American community leaders

WHAT:

Press Conference Marking 30 Years Since the Brothers to the Rescue Shootdown

WHEN:

Thursday, February 19, 2026

9:00 a.m. ET

WHERE:

Assault Brigade 2506 Museum

13651 NW 107th Avenue

Hialeah Gardens, FL 33018

**Spaces are limited***

All interested credentialed media may RSVP to Andrea.Morales@mail.house.gov

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