Gimenez and Miami-Dade Tax Collector push federal review of Cuba-related licenses after local enforcement actions

South Florida officials outline stepped-up scrutiny of Cuba-linked commerce

U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez and Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez have jointly promoted a new phase of enforcement and federal engagement aimed at restricting commercial activity tied to Cuba from within Miami-Dade. The initiative centers on whether businesses operating locally are complying with federal authorization requirements for exports, travel-related services and other Cuba-connected transactions.

At a Feb. 17, 2026 event at PortMiami, Gimenez said he and local leaders were seeking broader federal review of licenses used by U.S.-based companies that conduct business involving Cuba, arguing that some shipments and transactions exceed what is permitted under humanitarian exceptions. The public messaging emphasized allegations that certain exports have included luxury goods rather than basic necessities.

Local legal tools: business tax receipts and compliance notices

Fernandez’s office has framed its actions around local business tax receipts, which function as the county’s authorization for businesses to operate. Florida law allows local authorities to revoke or refuse to renew such receipts for entities “doing business with Cuba.” Miami-Dade’s code includes parallel provisions tied to compliance with federal law.

• In late 2025, the Tax Collector’s Office issued compliance letters to businesses seeking documentation of federal authorization for Cuba-related activity and later revoked business tax receipts for a group of companies that did not respond within the requested timelines.
• In January 2026, the office announced an additional round of compliance notices, expanding the review to more businesses whose activities may involve Cuba-linked commerce.

Disputes and litigation highlight procedural questions

The enforcement campaign has also led to legal challenges. A Miami-based charter company filed suit in federal court in late December 2025, alleging its business tax receipt was affected without proper notice and raising questions about the relationship between county administrative requirements and the Tax Collector’s asserted authority as an independent constitutional office.

The dispute underscores a central issue: how local enforcement tied to Cuba-related restrictions intersects with federal licensing determinations and county procedural rules.

What comes next

The coordinated push now has two tracks: continued local compliance reviews and an effort by Gimenez and aligned local officials to prompt federal agencies to reexamine licensing and enforcement related to Cuba-bound commerce. The practical impact for Miami-Dade businesses will hinge on document-based eligibility reviews, the outcome of ongoing legal disputes, and any federal decisions affecting the underlying licenses and authorizations that govern trade and services connected to Cuba.