The Mariel Boatlift
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Fleeing Fidel & Finding Florida:
The Mariel Boatlift an Immigration Breakthrough

The Mariel Boatlift 

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"People burn Cubans burn tables and roulette wheels outside the Plaza Hotel Casino in Old Havana, Cuba in Jan 1959, shortly after revolutionary leader Fidel Castro gained power.  On January 1, 1959, dictator Fulugencio Batista fled Cuba and Castro's rebels took power."[ReviewJournal.1959]

"Refugees transfering from sinking boats on their way to Key West" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

"Open Arms"

Jimmy Carter addressed the Cuban government in an "Open Arms" speech. This began the journey to freedom for many Cuban citizens. In his speech Jimmy Carter said, "After 43 years of animosity, we hope that someday soon, you can reach across the great divide that separates our two countries and say, "We are ready to join the community of democracies," and I hope that Americans will soon open our arms to you and say, "We welcome you as our friends" (Carter, 1980).

"Carter Pledges to Admit Cuban Refugees" (Carter, April 1980).

The Exodus Begins

"On April 20, 1980, Fidel Castro announced that any Cubans who wanted to leave could do so without punishment from the port town of Mariel. In the clearest possible expression of their hatred of Castro’s rule, Cubans voted by boat. More than a hundred thousand took to rickety, makeshift vessels in what came to be known as the Mariel Boatlift" (Voting with Boats, Liberty-intl).

From Key West to Mariel

(Boats docked in Key West during the Mariel boatlift, McDonald).

(Boats docked in Key West during the Mariel boatlift, Mcdonald).

There were two perspectives on how the Mariel migration occurred. When news came from Castro that the Cubans could be picked up at the Mariel port, many relatives rented boats to make the perilous 121 mile journey to pick up their family. Masses of people were Many Cuban families who resided in Florida spent thousands on sending charter out to save their families from Castro. "The boats that arrived to retrieve them—a scrappy, ad-hoc fleet of privately chartered American fishing boats, lobster boats, and shrimping trawlers of varying sizes and degrees of seaworthiness—earned the name the “Freedom Flotilla". The shrimpers were collecting Cubans and bringing them back. Shrimp captains explained that, "they thought they were doing a service for the good people of Cuba—they just weren’t able to do it for free" (atlasobscura). 

"Ports in Key West, Opa-Locka and Miami opened makeshift immigration processing centers to accommodate the flood of Marielitos. As the southernmost point in Florida and shortest distance from Mariel, the small island town of Key West was especially overwhelmed by the wave of nearly 3,000 immigrants that arrived within the first 20 days of the exodus," (Florida memory).

"The shrimp Boat  Americana during the Mariel Boatlift" (Marva,"When Georgia Shrimpers Haul Refugees,"July 1980).

From Mariel to Key West 

"Cuban Americans scan arriving boats for friends and relatives" (Mcdonald, Florida Memory).

"Refugees aboard a boat during Mariel boatlift" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

"At the end of April the Cuban Government reported over 1700 vessels were in the port of Mariel.  The Coast Guard responded to distress calls on a case by case basis.  Within a 21- hour period, Group Key West assisted sixteen craft and had a waiting list of twenty boats which had suffered mechanical failures and needed assistance"(Florida Memory, 1980). Cubans waited in camps until they were picked up and packed into boats that almost sunk on their journey to Key West. Fidel Castro mixed criminals into the boats to send to America. This caused future issues in America on the legality of deporting these criminals. 

(Welcome to Mariel, Cuba – the new port giving berth to hope,Google maps).

 Types of Refugees

"The camp was divided into three sections" (Ojito).

"Cuban Refugee holding Mother Mary" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

1.

 "One large area was reserved for people like us who'd been claimed by relatives from Miami" (Ojito).

"Cuban refugees on their way to the Keys" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

2.

"Another, without tents or cots, was for those who'd been in the Peruvian Embassy" (Ojito). 

"Officers detaining a Cuban" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus,1980).

3.

"Yet another section, closer to the water and guarded by attack dogs, was reserved for people who'd walked into police stations across the country, declared themselves scum, and asked for a permit to leave" (Ojito).

The U.S. Coast Guard Response

"U.S. Coast Guard "Mariel Boatlift"' (American History, ABC-CLIO, 2020).

"The influx of people that arrived from Mariel required national attention and all hands on deck. "The United States Coast Guard's Seventh District, commanded by Rear Admiral Benedict L. Stabile, knew they were going to have a search and rescue problem to deal with. The question was: How large?... At the end of April the Cuban Government reported over 1700 vessels were in the port of Mariel. The Coast Guard responded to distress calls on a case by case basis. Within a 21-hour period, Group Key West assisted sixteen craft and had a waiting list of twenty boats which had suffered mechanical failures and needed assistance. In addition to the Groups three patrol boats the cutters Acushnet (WAGO-167), Dauntless (WMEC-624), and Dependable (WMEC626), the latter with a HH-52 helicopter embarked, patrolled the general area" (U. S. Coast Guard Operations During the 1980 Cuban Exodus, cgaviationhistory).

"U.S. Coast Guard with Cuban Refugees" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

"Refugees on a raft" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

"Coast Guard picking up refugees at sea" (cgaviationhistory, 1980).

"Cuban refugees looking onward for land" (Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

121 Mile Journey

126,000 Refugees

45 Fatalities 


"Just because it is legal does not make it right."- Christine Dahl Federal Public Defender