A new State Department report indicates that activists with ties to Cuba have developed a nationwide mobilization plan that could target military installations, federal facilities, and immigration enforcement sites across the United States, particularly in California. The plan, devised by the National Network on Cuba, outlines "coordinated nationwide actions" to be launched within 24 hours if there is an "imminent threat" or a U.S. military move against Cuba.

This network encompasses over 50 groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Communist Party USA, and CODEPINK. The DSA has an established presence in California politics, with its Los Angeles chapter supporting local elected officials.

California as a Key Target

California's extensive network of military bases, recruitment offices, federal buildings, immigration enforcement sites, and even sports arenas during major events, makes it a particularly significant focus for this strategy. The state hosts major installations for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Army, stretching from San Diego County through Northern California.

A resource shared by the Black Alliance for Peace, described by the State Department as a frequent collaborator with Havana, maps 1,335 military and law enforcement sites across the Americas. The State Department has characterized this map as a "target guide," while the Black Alliance for Peace refers to it as the "Map of U.S. Militarization in Our Americas," encouraging activists to use it for organizing.

The National Network on Cuba's rapid-response plan specifically identifies categories of locations for potential actions, including military bases, recruitment offices, federal buildings and courthouses, ICE detention centers and field offices, and sports arenas during high-visibility events.

Broader Cuban Influence Network

The 99-page report details what officials describe as a decades-long Cuban influence network operating through various U.S. activist organizations and political movements. The Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), sanctioned by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is highlighted as an organization supporting Cuban intelligence and counterintelligence activities. ICAP, founded during Fidel Castro's rule, has maintained relationships with U.S. universities, student organizations, and activist movements.

Organizations like CODEPINK and others within the National Network on Cuba have sent delegations to Cuba in recent years. Some of these groups are reportedly under scrutiny for their funding streams, with CODEPINK's backer, Neville Roy Singham, reportedly under investigation for potential financial crimes.

A State Department official stated that domestic law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies are "looking carefully" at this "very serious and distinct threat," noting that some organizations involved have a history of "violent action."

The report also points to Cuba's deepening ties with adversarial nations like Russia, China, and Iran, suggesting this increases the potential threat to the U.S.

Notable figures mentioned in the report include former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who have had past ties to Cuba. Bass's history includes work with the Venceremos Brigade, a group that facilitated exchanges between Americans and Cuba. She traveled to Cuba with the group as a young activist in 1973 and later as a member of Congress in 2016 during the Obama administration's normalization efforts. Her past comments on Fidel Castro's death also drew criticism.

The U.S. government views the potential for coordinated actions as a growing and significant threat, particularly given the current heightened tensions between Washington and Havana and past discussions of potential U.S. military action against Cuba.