Fernández Noroña’s Cuba Donation Returned: AMLO’s Aid Request & US Blockade

Mexican Senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña’s recent donation of 64,000 pesos to Cuba, responding to a call from former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has encountered an unexpected complication: the transaction has been flagged as “returned” by Mexico’s central bank, Banxico.

Noroña, a member of the Morena party and former President of the Senate as of September 1, 2024, publicly shared a screenshot of the transaction on social media Tuesday, accompanied by a message of solidarity with Cuba. The transfer, reportedly made at 1:26 PM local time, was intended for the “Humanidad con América Latina” Civil Association, established to procure medicines, petroleum and food for the island nation.

The donation follows a public appeal by López Obrador on March 15th, urging supporters to contribute to the association to aid the Cuban government. According to reporting by El Financiero, a subsequent check with Banxico revealed the payment was not processed and is currently listed as “DEVUELTO” – returned.

The situation unfolds against a backdrop of increasing pressure on Cuba, exacerbated by the ongoing U.S. Embargo and recent warnings regarding potential sanctions against countries supplying fuel to the island. The administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum has initiated shipments of humanitarian aid to Cuba, and has as well called upon the United Nations to provide assistance, according to reports.

Cuba’s armed forces are reportedly preparing for a potential military aggression, as confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, following statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting a willingness to intervene.

Fernández Noroña’s political career began in 1988 as a candidate for federal deputy representing the Socialist Party of Mexico. He later joined the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) in 1989, becoming a spokesperson for López Obrador’s 2006 presidential campaign and alleging electoral fraud. He subsequently left the PRD in 2009, joining the Labor Party (PT) and serving as a federal deputy from 2009 to 2012. He was again elected as a federal deputy in 2018 and 2021. In 2024, he assumed the presidency of the Senate, a position he held until August 31, 2025.

The “Humanidad con América Latina” Civil Association, which received the intended donation, is a citizen-led initiative supported by prominent figures including Laura Esquivel and Elena Poniatowska.

The status of the returned donation remains unclear, and the reasons for the reversal have not been publicly disclosed.