December 2 - The Cuban Boat Lift from Matanzas Bay Ended - a podcast by 43 Keys Media

In 1965, Fidel Castro, facing growing political unrest, and widespread economic problems, seize the initiative on refugees by manipulating US immigration policy to his advantage, knowing that the US open door policy made it politically awkward if not impossible to refuse refugees from Cuba, Castro announced that exiled Cubans could pick up relatives wishing to immigrate at the port of Camarioca in Matanzas, Cuba.

Castro's unilateral opening worked and the United States welcomed some 5000 Cubans to Miami in just a few weeks, and Castro was able to defuse a serious domestic crisis in November and agreement between Cuba and the United States resulted in the Cuban airlift, which ultimately transported to 265,000 refugees to the United States. The Camarioca boat Lift and the subsequent airlift took the Johnson administration by surprise, but the president followed his predecessors policies. He stressed the Cubans desire for freedom, and provided direct federal aid to Florida and the refugees nothing was done to prevent future boat lifts the United States simply hope that Castro would not permit them again. Carioca, however, was only a prelude.

Seven years after the end of the Cuban airlift, Castro launched and even bigger boat Lyft in the Port of Mariel and Havana. Again, there was little the US government could do to stop the frantic one way sea traffic from Havana to Key West.

President Jimmy Carter eventually invoked the unwritten open door policy to admit the 125,000 Cubans who crossed the Florida straits. During the five months the boat lift was an operation, as in the case of Camarioca.

In 1965, and the Cuban airlift of 1966 to 73, Castro unilaterally opened and close the doors to the United States at his convenience.

And it was today December 2, 1965 that the Cuban boat lift from Matanzas Bay ended when the first airliner with 93 refugees landed in Miami.

During the boat lift 4598 refugees came through the port of Key West.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. If you like this show, you can hear it as an Alexa flash briefing or as a podcast on iTunes. Any other place you listen to your podcast. We also have other shows about weather and fishing reports that are Alexa flash briefings and podcasts to find out everything you want to know about the beautiful Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com.

 

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