Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is pushing back against allegations that her daughter, Isra Hirsi, received support from the Cuban government to participate in anti-American activism after her name appeared in a recently released State Department report.
Omar was questioned this week by a journalist regarding claims involving Hirsi that were included in the report, titled “Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism.”
The more than 100-page report characterizes Cuba as a continuing strategic threat to the U.S., alleging the Cuban government has sought to expand its influence by cultivating relationships with activists and organizations operating inside the country.
According to the report, Cuban officials have attempted to influence political movements through organizations and individuals the document describes as “front groups and fellow travelers.”
The report identifies several organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America, the National Network on Cuba, the Communist Party USA, CODEPINK, Black Alliance for Peace and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
It also names several public figures, including political commentator Hasan Piker, Amazon Labor Union founder Chris Smalls, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, journalist Amy Goodman and Omar’s daughter, Isra Hirsi.
According to the report, those individuals and organizations were cited in connection with alleged Cuban influence efforts involving anti-embargo advocacy, solidarity campaigns, public statements about Cuba and participation in Cuba-related events.
The report also references plans by the National Network on Cuba to organize demonstrations at military bases, federal buildings and Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in the event of a U.S. military action against Cuba.
It further notes that Black Alliance for Peace circulated a guide identifying more than 1,300 military and law enforcement facilities.
However, the report also acknowledges that criticism of U.S. policy toward Cuba or participation in solidarity efforts does not, by itself, establish that an individual is acting on behalf of the Cuban government.
Some portions of the report rely on previously documented espionage cases.
Among them is Ana Belén Montes, a former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst who pleaded guilty in 2002 to conspiracy to commit espionage after admitting she worked on behalf of Cuban intelligence.
The report also references former U.S. diplomat Manuel Rocha, who pleaded guilty in 2024 to acting as an agent of the Cuban government for decades.
According to the report, those cases demonstrate Cuba’s ability to recruit individuals with access to sensitive U.S. government information, per the Conservative Brief.
The document, however, extends beyond espionage cases by discussing political advocacy and ideological support for Cuba alongside covert intelligence operations.
Cuban officials rejected the report’s conclusions.
According to Military.com, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel criticized the document and described the administration’s approach as a new form of McCarthyism.
The report was released following President Donald Trump’s July 16 address on election integrity, during which he alleged China had obtained information from millions of American voter records.
The administration has argued the report highlights broader foreign influence efforts targeting the U.S., while also acknowledging intelligence agencies found no evidence that foreign governments altered vote totals during the 2020, 2022 or 2024 elections.
Omar denied allegations that her daughter received support from the Cuban regime. The State Department report identifies Hirsi among individuals discussed in its review of alleged Cuban influence efforts but does not establish that she received funding or direction from the Cuban government.
