Miami Cubans Demand End to Castro Regime: 'Time for True Change'

In the heart of Miami's Cuban American community, a sense of cautious optimism has given way to frustration and impatience as residents wait to see how far President Trump will go in reversing the Obama administration's opening to Cuba. Many believe the time has come for more aggressive action to topple the communist government in Havana.

Cuban exiles and their descendants have long pushed for a hard-line policy toward the island, and they see Trump's promised crackdown as only a first step. They want the president to go much further, perhaps even backing military action to oust the Castro family from power.

"The Castros have to go," said Mauricio Claver-Carone, the director of Cuba Democracy Advocates, a Washington-based group that advocates a tough U.S. stance. "Anything less than that is not enough."

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For decades, the Cuban American community in Miami has been the driving force behind the U.S. embargo on Cuba and the push for regime change on the island. They have long memories of the communist revolution that drove their families from their homeland, and they have passionately supported a hard line against the Castro government.

Now, with Trump vowing to "cancel" the Obama administration's opening to Cuba, many Cuban Americans feel vindicated. But they also worry the president may not go far enough.

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"I'm tired of waiting," said Gus Machado, a 71-year-old Miami businessman whose family fled Cuba in 1962. "We've been betrayed too many times. It's time for real change, not just empty promises."

Cuban Americans make up about 70 percent of Miami-Dade County's population, and their political influence is unparalleled. They have long dominated local and state politics, and their support is critical for any Republican presidential candidate.

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Trump's promises to take a harder line on Cuba have boosted his popularity among Cuban Americans, who overwhelmingly supported him in the 2016 election. But some now worry that he may not be willing to push the confrontation with Havana as far as they would like.

"We need to go beyond sanctions," said Mauricio Claver-Carone. "We need to start talking about the use of force to remove the Castros from power."