Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding today’s fifth anniversary of the unjust incarceration of Alan Gross, an American being held hostage by the Castro regime in Cuba:

“For five years, an American citizen has been held hostage by the Castro regime simply for helping the Jewish community in Cuba access the Internet. Alan Gross should never have been imprisoned by the Castro regime. All free people and free nations around the world have a moral duty to advocate for Alan Gross’ immediate, unconditional freedom, and make clear that the freedom to access and communicate via an uncensored Internet is a fundamental human right.

“This anniversary of Alan Gross’ imprisonment is the latest reminder that the Cuban regime remains as repressive as ever. Just last week, Castro regime thugs stabbed several Ladies In White, and beat or detained other peaceful dissidents. Unilateral concessions by the U.S. government to the Castro regime will help fund more human rights violations, and keep real freedom further out of reach for the Cuban people.

“Today, I join people in the U.S. and around the world in praying for Alan Gross’ physical and psychological well-being. And I urge the Obama Administration to step up its efforts against the Castro regime with the goal of securing Alan Gross’ unconditional release.”