Cuban exile and boat people migrations after the 1959 Revolution (1959–1994)

1. Castro takes power, prompting early exile

   Jan 1, 1959Labels: Fidel Castro, Cuba

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

2. Operation Peter Pan sends children to U.S.

   Jan 1, 1960Labels: Operation Peter, Cuban children

   • Britannica
   • Miami Library

3. U.S. and Cuba sever diplomatic relations

   Jan 3, 1961Labels: United States, Cuba

   • NARA
   • History com

4. Cuban Missile Crisis further disrupts travel

   Oct 1, 1962Labels: Cuban Missile, U S

   • State History
   • JFK Library

5. Camarioca boatlift opens a new sea route

   Oct 1, 1965Labels: Camarioca boatlift, Florida

   • Miami Library
   • Britannica

6. Freedom Flights begin from Varadero to Miami

   Dec 1, 1965Labels: Freedom Flights, Varadero

   • State History
   • NARA

7. Cuban Adjustment Act creates a special U.S. pathway

   Nov 2, 1966Labels: Cuban Adjustment, United States

   • Britannica
   • LOC Guide

8. Freedom Flights end, leaving fewer legal routes

   Apr 1, 1973Labels: Freedom Flights, U S

   • State History
   • Miami Library

9. Peruvian embassy crisis triggers mass exit pressure

   Apr 1, 1980Labels: Peruvian embassy, Havana

   • LOC Guide
   • Washington Post

10. Mariel boatlift moves about 125,000 to U.S.

    Apr 15, 1980Labels: Mariel boatlift, Mariel Harbor

    • Florida Memory
    • Immig History

11. Cuba signals tolerance for departures, sparking raft crisis

    Aug 13, 1994Labels: Rafter crisis, Balseros

    • Miami Library
    • Washington Post

12. U.S. detains intercepted rafters at Guantánamo

    Aug 19, 1994Labels: Guant namo, U S

    • Amnesty
    • Miami Library

13. U.S. and Cuba sign 1995 migration normalization steps

    May 2, 1995Labels: 1995 migration, U S

    • Clinton Archive
    • LOC Guide

14. 1994–1995 accords end the 1959–1994 crisis era

    Sep 9, 1995Labels: 1994 1995, U S

    • Clinton Archive
    • Miami Library