Marco Rubio calls decision to grant Raul Castro's daughter a U.S. visa 'outrageous'

Sen. Marco Rubio has put up a YouTube video criticizing the U.S. government for granting a visa to Raul Castro's daughter, Mariela, to attend a conference in San Francisco.

In the video, Rubio, a Florida Republican, called Mariela Castro "an arm of his regime" and said the decision was "outrageous" and "an enormous mistake."

"Not only that, it sends a terrible message to the democratic movement in Cuba, to those brave people in Cuba who every single day resist and speak out against the tyranny of the Castro brothers," Rubio said.

Rubio joins the chorus of Cuban-Americans in Congress, including Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, slamming the decision.

Read Rubio's statement after the jump.

SENATOR RUBIO COMMENTS ON ISSUANCE OF U.S. VISA TO RAUL CASTRO’S DAUGHTER 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the issuance of a U.S. visa to Raul Castro’s daughter: 

“I think the U.S. government’s decision to grant the daughter of Raul Castro a visa to come to the United States and spread the propaganda of her father’s regime is outrageous and an enormous mistake. Not only that, it sends a terrible message to the democratic movement in Cuba, to those brave people in Cuba who every single day resist and speak out against the tyranny of the Castro brothers. Meanwhile, we are granting a visa to his daughter, who is not just his daughter.  She is an arm of his regime, an outspoken supporter and is coming to the United States to spread their anti-American propaganda. It is shameful that they would grant that visa.” 

SENATOR RUBIO COMMENTS ON ISSUANCE OF U.S. VISA TO RAUL CASTRO’S DAUGHTER 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the issuance of a U.S. visa to Raul Castro’s daughter: 

“I think the U.S. government’s decision to grant the daughter of Raul Castro a visa to come to the United States and spread the propaganda of her father’s regime is outrageous and an enormous mistake. Not only that, it sends a terrible message to the democratic movement in Cuba, to those brave people in Cuba who every single day resist and speak out against the tyranny of the Castro brothers. Meanwhile, we are granting a visa to his daughter, who is not just his daughter.  She is an arm of his regime, an outspoken supporter and is coming to the United States to spread their anti-American propaganda. It is shameful that they would grant that visa.”