The Mariel Boatlift
1980
More than 10,000 people crowded into the grounds of the Peruvian embassy in Havana in the spring of 1980 after a group seeking asylum entered the compound and the Cuban government withdrew its guards. Fidel Castro subsequently allowed people to leave through the port of Mariel. [1]
Small boats arrived from Florida, many sent by Cuban Americans trying to bring relatives out, and returned with crowded decks. Approximately 125,000 Cubans reached Florida before the boatlift ended. American reception arrangements could not readily accommodate so many arrivals. [1]
On 14 May, President Jimmy Carter moved to stop the uncontrolled crossings, instructing vessels heading to Cuba to turn back. Boat owners bringing people without authorization risked fines and the seizure of their craft, even when they had sailed to collect relatives. Carter proposed an orderly entry program with a Miami center where relatives could register the people they wanted to bring over. [2]
Related Diplomats
Sources
- Mariel Boatlift archival guide — University of Miami Cuban Heritage Collection
Overview: Peruvian embassy, Mariel departures and approximately 125,000 arrivals
- Carter announces policy toward Cuban refugees
Coast Guard instructions, fines/seizure, proposed orderly entry and Miami registration center
- Memorandum From Assistant Secretary Todman to Secretary Vance
- Diplomacy Meets Migration: Bibliography and oral interviews
Related Reading
Cite This Article
The Mariel Boatlift. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record b0613b87e3e49265b30a. https://chanceries.org/research/history/cuba-mariel-f0b6cb2508/