Reply #33: The Marial Boatlift is well documented. [View All]

Sometimes facts are simply facts.

In 1973 Castro cut off the Freedom Flights begun by President Johnson. Between 1973 and 1980 there were few migrants making the journey between Cuba and the United States. On March 17, 1980 the Refugee Act of 1980 was signed into law. The goal of this legislation was to create an orderly process for determining refugee status and processing asylum applications. (5) It also explicitly limited the use of parole to refugees with compelling reasons and only on a case by case basis. (6)

It was at this moment in U.S. immigration history, on March 28, 1980, that a bus carrying Cuban citizens intentionally crashed into the gates of the Peruvian Embassy in Havana. The passengers claimed asylum. Soon 10,800 Cubans sought refuge at the Peruvian Embassy. President Carter announced that the U.S. would accept 3,500 if they were first processed in Costa Rica. Not to be outdone Castro took charge of the situation and announced that any Cuban who wanted to leave could do so by boat through Mariel harbor. President Carter proclaimed that the United States would welcome the Cubans with "an open heart and open arms." The result was the Marial Boatlift that eventually brought 150,000 Cubans to Florida.

Unfortunately, not all the migrants were admissible to the U.S. Some of the Marielitos had criminal records or mental problems. These migrants were detained indefinitely. Displeased by this policy migrants rioted at detention facilities at Elgin Air Force Base and Ft. Chafee in May and June 1980. Amidst the general confusion surrounding the massive influx of Cuban migrants, there was confusion surrounding what legal authority was controlling: The Refugee Act of 1980, or the Cuban Refugee Adjustment Act of 1966. In addition, a significant number of Haitians arrived at the same time as the Cubans.

BTW, I'd take pot shots at any government that oppresses their people at a point of a gun.