C3530911
The journey for many Cubans to Florida is a dangerous one.
Many travel by boat the short but hazardous route to the South coast of Florida and continue their journey up to Miami, where thousands of Cuban refugees have settled for generations.
TIMELINE OF THE CUBAN AMERICAN DREAM
1817-23
COLONIAL DIVERSITY
Immigration waves to the territory of Florida began in the 16th Century with the arrival of Spanish Colonisers.
1898
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
Due to the number of Cuban refugees in the area, Florida became an important source of funds and men for the cause of Cuban Independance.
1912
NEOCOLONIAL DOMINANCE
After the Spanish-American War the United States interest in expanding their territory into the Caribbean. Cuba gained independence from Spain but US neocolonial control of political and economic affairs continued until 1959.
1959
FIDEL CASTRO TAKES POWER IN CUBA
After years of struggle, Fidel Castro and the 26th of July Movement take power in Cuba following the departure of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
1959-62
FIRST WAVE OF EXILE
Dver 200,000 Cubans sought exile in the US as a result of the radical changes brought about by the revolutionary leadership of Castro, bringing changes to almost every aspect of Cuban life. The majority of the first wave of exile was composed of white Cubans from the upper and professional classes, resulting in a 'brain wave' leaving a shortage of educated and skilled workers in Cuba.
STRAIN ON RESOURCES
In 1958, Miami was a smaller community with around 30,000 members of the Cuban community. After 1959, the increased number of Cuban exiles strained resources and and infrastructure.
1961
THE US CUT DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH CUBA
President Dwight D. Eisenhower cut diplomatic ties with Cuba after years of deteriorating relations, culminating in the leadership of Castro.
1963
REFUGEE STATUS
At first, many Cuban exiles considered their time in the US to be temporary, lasting only until pressures toppled the Castro Government, after an invasion failure by the US, they moved towards the formalisation of the immigration status of this group, officially announcing that Cubans that reached US soil would be granted refugee status.
1965-73
SECOND WAVE OF EXILE
The U.S. government sponsored "Freedom Flights" brought 260,500 Cubans to the United States. This second wave of exile was primarily composed of white, middle class Cubans.
1966
CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT
The U.S. government passed the Cuban Adjustment Act, which allowed Cubans to seek residency after two years in the United States. As a result of this and subsequent legislation maintaining the privileged refugee status of Cuban migrants, from 1966 to 2017, there was no such thing as an "illegal" or "undocumented" Cuban immigrant.
1980
WHO IS CONSIDERED A REFUGEE?
The 1980s Mariel boatlift changed the Cuban immigration trend. For the first time, Afro-Cubans arrived in Florida in large numbers, although they constituted a minority within Cuban refugees.
1987
DAMAGING CUBAN PORTRAYALS
Cuban stereotypes were an obstacle to refugees seeking homes, employment and other opportunities. These depictions in popular media including Al Pacino's performance as Tony Montana in Scarface continue to be associated with the Cuban community and are damaging, racist portrayals which have led to a negative impact on the Americans' views of the newer group of Cuban immigrants.
1994-95
'WET FOOT, DRY FOOT'
The Cuban and U.S. governments negotiate the U.S.-Cuban Migration Acts, also known as "Wet-Foot-Dry-Foot." Designed to discourage Cubans from making the dangerous trip across the Florida Straits, this legislation maintains special status for Cubans who physically reach U.S. soil, while mandating that those who are picked up at sea be returned to Cuba unless they qualify for asylum.
2014
RENEWED TIES
Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama shocked the world by announcing that the two nations would act to restore diplomatic ties after more than half a century.
2020-2021
MASS EXODUS
Living conditions in Cuba under Communist rule have long been precarious, but today, deepening poverty and hopelessness have set off the largest exodus from the Caribbean island since Castro rose to power over 50 years ago.
The country was hit by tighter US sanctions and the Covid-19 Pandemic which destroyed Cuba's tourism industry. Food became even more scarce and more expensive, and millions endured hours-long blackouts.
Between 2020 and 2021 nearly 250,000 Cubans (more than 2% of the island's 11 million population) have migrated to the US, most of them arriving at the Southern border by land according to US government data.
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