Fleeing Fidel

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

"The "Americana" packed with Cuban refugees during the Mariel Boatlift in Key West, Florida" (floridamemory, McDonald,1980).

Thesis

The Mariel Boatlift broke both geographical and immigration barriers as seen in the Refugee Act of 1980 and the utilization of rehabilitation agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Marielitos were negatively stereotyped by the media and many were initially detained as criminals in the United States. The barrier breaking case Clark v. Martinez , allowed the imprisoned Marielitos to finally reach freedom as the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not indefinitely detain them.

Interviews

Maria Guzman

"Image of Maria Guzman"(Guzman,Personal Interview).

Watch This Interview

Esq. Christine Dahl

"Image of Christine Dahl"(Dahl Tax).

Watch This Interview

Esq. Rafael Peñalver

"Image of Rafael Penalver"(Penalver, Video Interview).

Read this Interview

Mirta Ojito

"Image of Mirta Ojito"
(Ojito, Twitter).

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Perspectives

❝"Those who don't have revolutionary genes, revolutionary blood, a mind or heart which can adapt to the effort and heroism of a revolution aren't wanted here, they aren't needed."

-Fidel Castro, during a May 1 speech in Havana, 1980

❝

"We will continue to provide an open heart and open arms to refugees seeking freedom from Communist domination and from economic deprivation, brought about primarily by Fidel Castro and his government."

-President Jimmy Carter, May 5, 1980, Washington, D.C.

❝"You are in America now, he said. You can forget the past and begin anew. I thought the man was joking, but his face remained serious, waiting for my response. Thank you, I said, but I'll keep my name."

-Mirta Ojito

Watch: From Cuba to America - A Marielita's Experience Told

"Amanda Mickler, Maria Martinez Guzman, Amy Heaton, and Julia Lubitz respectively at Univision for an interview with a Marielita" (Guzman, Personal Interview).

W3.CSS

❝I always say the "Sunset," its the "Sunset" August 28, 1980. And I will never forget that name. And every time I stay in Key West, I love Key West and I look at that sunset, right, and I say how ironic that beautiful sunset in Key West, for me [the boat] should have maybe been called the sunrise because it was opening up to so many possibilities."
-Maria Guzman

CELEBRATING THE MARIEL BOATLIFT'S 40th ANNIVERSARY

"Almost 40 years after the Mariel Boatlift, top academics don't agree on how this influx of close to 250,000 Cuban immigrants affected Miami's work force" (Leubsdorf,1980).

CUBAN REFUGEE PROCESSING

(Latin American Studies, Mariel Exodus, 1980).

CUBAN INFLUENCE

"Calle Ocho 2020 takes place in Miami’s historic Little Havana" (Joe Raedle, Calle Ocho Street Festival is coming. But don’t miss all the other Carnaval Miami events, Miami Herald, 11 February 2020).

BREAKING BARRIERS IN IMMIGRATION LAW

(Ronald Smothers, Cuban Inmates Riot in Louisiana Over New Threat of Deportation, The New York Times, 23 November 1987).

"Court case ruling and the justices' decisions" (Oyez).

Writers & Editors

Amanda Mickler, Amy Heaton, Julia Lubitz
Group Senior Division Website
1,197 Original Words
3:59 Minutes of Multimedia
499 Process Paper

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