Topics: Cuba : Mariel Boatlift

The Mariel Boatlift was a mass exodus of refugees from Cuba's Mariel Harbour, from April 1 until September 26, 1980. Approximately 125,000 Cubans arrived in the United States.April 1, 1980 - Six Cubans seeking asylum crash a bus through gates of Peruvian Embassy in Havana.April 4, 1980 - Peru extends asylum to the gate-crashers.April 6, 1980 - 10,856 Cubans crowd onto embassy grounds; Peru grants them asylum.April 20, 1980 - Cuban President Fidel Castro announces he will open the port of Mariel for exiles to pick up relatives who want to leave the island.May, 1980 - Orange Bowl prepared as emergency shelter. Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola opens as processing center and resettlement camp. Daily flow of refugees surpasses 3,000. US President Jimmy Carter: "We'll continue to provide an open heart and open arms to refugees seeking freedom from Communist domination."