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WE ARE A STRONG COMMUNITY WHERE CONNECTIONS, SUCCESS, AND OPPORTUNITIES GROW.
ABOUT US
Facts About Cuban Exiles (F.A.C.E.) was founded in Miami, Florida, in 1982 for the purpose of fostering in the public at large an accurate perception and understanding of Cuban exiles, that is, those persons of Cuban origin who have sought refuge outside of Cuba because of existing political conditions.
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F.A.C.E. strives to achieve understanding and cooperation among persons of Cuban origin and other groups in the communities where they reside.
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F.A.C.E. is fully committed to combating all forms of bigotry and discrimination against persons of Cuban origin.
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F.A.C.E., an independent, nonprofit organization, relies entirely on membership dues, proceeds from its fund-raising activities, and other voluntary contributions.
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The following is taken from F.A.C.E. brochures from the 1990s:
ACTIVITIES
F.A.C.E. encourages objective coverage of the Cuban exile community on the part of
the independent media and responds to erroneous or biased reports.
F.A.C.E. researches, publishes and disseminates factual information regarding:
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The history, composition and socioeconomic adaptation of the various waves of Cuban emigration, including the exodus via the port of Mariel.
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The contribution of Cuban exiles to the United States and other countries in areas such as business, education, science and fine arts.
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The political conditions that provoked the Cuban exodus.
F.A.C.E. supports kindred efforts to improve or clarify the image of the Cuban exile population throughout the world.
F.A.C.E. advocates on behalf of Cubans experiencing hardship, unfair treatment or violation of their human rights.
F.A.C.E. employs, in the pursuit of its goals, the collective labor, influence, resources and example of its members.
Timeline of the Cuban Exodus Early U.S.–Cuba Relations
The U.S. has had a strategic interest in Cuba since the early 19th century, when Thomas Jefferson expressed interest in annexing the island. This relationship evolved into the Spanish American War of 1898, sparked by the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. The U.S. joined Cuban patriots—who were already close to victory—in their long struggle for independence.
From 1898 to 1902, Cuba was under U.S. administration. The 1901 Constitution of Cuba preceded May 20, 1902, when the American flag was lowered from the Morro Castle, and the Cuban flag was raised, marking the birth of the Republic of Cuba. However, the 1901 Constitution included the Platt Amendment, which granted the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs to protect life, liberty and property as it would do several times. This provision remained in force until 1934. Then Cubans drafted the 1940 Constitution without any further U.S. amendment which lasted until January 1, 1959, which marks the Castro takeover.
* Sam Verdeja and Leonardo Rodríguez, Cuba: Chronological History, (FACE, 2024)
1959–1962: The Beginning of Exile
When the U.S. withdrew support from the Batista regime in 1958, Fulgencio Batista and his family flee Cuba on December 31,1958 on an airplane to the Dominican Republic and, on three other planes, people close to Batista leave Cuba as well.
Fidel Castro, who had led guerrillas inthe Sierra Maestra mountains in Eastern Cuba, starts a carefully orchestrated eight-day march to Havana to take over the government. In one of his famous hours’ long speeches, he promises democratic elections, however, shortly thereafter while consolidating power, he reverses his election promise in another long speech now stating “¿Elecciones para qué?” or “Elections, What For?” Thus, no need for elections since he already was the “Maximum Leader”. Castro accelerates the path to Marxism/Communism, repression of opponents and eliminates free press. The first wave of exiles included politicians, professionals, business owners, and families fleeing the new “revolutionary” regime.*
Sam Verdeja and Guillermo Martínez, Cubans: An Epic Journey, 2 nd Ed. (FACE, 2022), Chapter 3
1961: Bay of Pigs Invasion
On April 17, 1961, Cuban exiles backed by the U.S. launch the Bay of Pigs Invasion in an attempt to liberate Cuba, but when the U.S. withdraws promised air support the effort fails, becoming a defining moment in exile history.*
* Cubans: An Epic Journey, (Chapters 3-7.
1960–1964: Operation Pedro Pan
Fearing Communist indoctrination, 14,048 unaccompanied Cuban minors, ages 6 to 18, were sent to the United States by their parents since the regime could impose Patria Potestad, that is, parental custody, stripping parents of their rights over their children. This clandestine operation remains to this day the largest child exodus in the Western Hemisphere.*
* Cubans: An Epic Journey, Chapter 4.
1962: Cuban Missile Crisis
The discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba brought the world to the brink of war during several tense days in October 1962. Finally, the USSR agreed to remove its missiles from Cuba following a U.S. naval quarantine ordered by President John F. Kennedy.*
* Cubans: An Epic Journey, Chapter 8.
1965: Camarioca Exodus
Fidel Castro unexpectedly opens the Port of Camarioca, allowing Cubans to leave for what he mockingly called the “Yankee Paradise,” provided they surrendered their property to the state. With U.S. Coast Guard assistance, approximately 5,000 Cubans cross the Florida Straits between October 10 and November 15, 1965.
* Cuba: A Chronological History, p. 291.
1965–1973: Freedom Flights
Following the chaotic Camarioca Exodus, the U.S. and Cuban governments agree to an organized airlift. Close to 270,000 Cubans arrived through these flights receiving U.S. government assistance at Miami’s iconic Freedom Tower.*
* Cuba: A Chronological History, p. 291.
1966: The Cuban Adjustment Act
The U.S. Congress passed the Cuban Adjustment Act, providing a pathway to permanent residency and eventual U.S. citizenship for Cubans fleeing communism.*
*Cuba: A Chronological History, p. 293.
1973:
In 1973 the Dade County commission passed an ordinance offering certain service in Spanish.
1980: Mariel Exodus
Thousands seeking asylum storm the Peruvian Embassy in Havana. Castro opens the Port of Mariel and from April 15 to October 31, 1980, 125,000 Cubans arrive in South Florida aboard vessels provided by their relatives, however, Castro deliberately required boats that went to Cuba to also bring on board around 2,500 common criminals, homosexuals (considered criminals by the Castro regime) and psychiatric patients released from prisons and sanatoriums which Castro considered to be “escoria” (scum.) The arrival of criminals and demented people in Miami damaged the hardearned reputation of Cuban exiles as hard-working, law-abiding and enterprising people.
The majority of Mariel refugees successfully integrated, contributing to the community and achieving the American Dream. A small minority caused a crime spike and later prison riots. Cuban inmates who were in a legal limbo, unable to be deported and denied their freedom while not serving a sentence, led to the Atlanta riot, which was settled with the participation of FACE Board Members Carlos Arboleya, Sam Verdeja and Rafael Peñalver, Jr., led by Msgr. Agustín Román ending in a peaceful resolution of the dispute, while the notorious riot in Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, cost thenGovernor Bill Clinton his reelection.
* Cubans: An Epic Journey, Chapter 10.
1980: Spanish American League Against Discrimination (S.A.L.A.D.)
In 1980 as when Cubans began to become an economic and political force and the Mariel boatlift, Castro forced boats that were carrying family members to take some criminals that caused an increase in crimes in Miami. A petition secured by signatures placed an “English Only” question on a ballot, the item passed reversing the 1973 ordinance.
Many felt the anti-Cuban tone of the issue and the Spanish American League Against Discrimination (S.A.L.A.D.) lead the fight along with the future FACE Chair Eduardo Padrón.
In 1993 FACE having an important role reversed “English Only” ordinance by the now majority of Hispanics and Blacks in the county commission. Miami-Dade County now offers services in English, Spanish, and Creole.
1982: FACE is founded to counter the defamatory narratives that emerged from Mariel.
1983: The “Ciment Wall”
September 21, 1993, Miami Beach Mayor Norman Ciment proposed an ordinance aimed at inhibiting Mariel refugees--scheduled to be released from Atlanta Federal Prison-- from moving to Miami Beach by requiring the registration of sponsors for them at police stations. Additionally, the Mayor suggested roadblocks be erected and drawbridges to be raised around the island. FACE energetically opposed this proposed ordinance and measures. The idea for the “Ciment Wall” was rejected on October 5, 1983, when the city council dropped the proposal. The mayor left politics after this.
1983: Tamiami Park Art Festival
FACE was a leader in organizing the “Festival de las Artes” at Tamiami Park in August of that year to give painters and poets that arrived in the Mariel Exodus an opportunity to showcase their art and to restart their artistic career in the U.S. For example: Carlos Castellano, the illustrator of the nationally syndicated comic strip, “Baldo”, launched his U.S. career at this festival. María Cristina Barros and Leslie Pantin, Jr., Members Sam Verdeja and Siro del Castillo played a key role, the event highlighting how the Miami community had played a key role in assisting and orienting the new arrivals.
1994: Rafters Crisis (Balseros)
38,560 Cubans fled on makeshift rafts, with many others drowning at sea. The Clinton administration, fearing mass casualties, ordered that rafters intercepted at sea be taken to Panama and to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay. Eventually the great majority made it to the U.S. *
*Cuba: A Chronological History, p. 348.
1994: FACE organized Orientación ’94.
Orientation ’94 was a FACE event to teach new Guantánamo Bay refugees about laws, education, health, and finances in their new home, the U.S.A
1996: Downing of Brothers to the Rescue.
On February 24 Cuban Air Force MiGs acting on a direct order from the Castro regime shot down two Brothers to the Rescue propeller airplanes that were searching for balseros (rafters) while flying in international airspace. Three of the four pilots murdered were U.S. citizens and the fourth a U.S. resident.
* Cuba: A Chronological History p. 351.
1999-2000 The Case of the Child Elián González
Elián González, age 5, was rescued on Thanksgiving Day (11/21/1999) after his mother rowned during an escape attempt. The custody battle became one of the most emotional and politically charged episodes in U.S.–Cuba relations.
On April 22, 2000, armed federal agents seized Elián from his relatives’ home in Miami, who had taken custody of him. The iconic photograph of the raid became worldfamous, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001. Elián was returned to Cuba in June 2000 being received at the Havana Airport by Fidel Castro who would henceforth attend his birthdays, making him a poster child of the revolution.
*Cuba: A Chronological History, p. 357.
1995–2017: Wet Foot/Dry Foot Policy
This policy instituted by President Clinton allowed Cubans who reached U.S. soil to remain, while those intercepted at sea to be returned. The policy was ended by President Obama in 2017.
*Cuba: A Chronological History, p. 349.
2017–2025: Southern Border Migration
In later years, many Cubans traveled through Central and South America, paying thousands of dollars to smugglers (“coyotes”), walking long distances, climbing mountains, and riding in unsafe buses to reach the U.S. southern border.
According to the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas continuously updated migration timeline, 514,255 Cubans crossed the border between 2022 and 2024, because they were arriving on foot after crossing multiple countries.
This is the largest Cuban migration in history.
Most were housed by relatives, found jobs, and integrated into the community. Unlike Mariel, Cuba did not release criminals during this period, and no increase in crime was noted.
On February 10, 2026, both The Washington Post and The New York Times reported that under U.S. pressure to reduce migration flows, Nicaragua began restricting the entry of Cubans into Nicaragua, which had been the main Havana-Managua air bridge in the flow of caravans to the Mexico-U.S. border.
2007–2025: Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP)
This program provided a legal pathway for eligible Cuban families to reunite in the United States. It was terminated by the U.S. Department of Homeland security in December 2025. Prior measures by the U.S. government and this measure practically ends the Cuban exodus for the U.S. for the time being.
For more information on the Cuban exile story and Cuban history refer to FACE publications, Cuba: A Chronological History; Cubans: An Epic Journey; and Cubanos: un viaje épico. These three books are available at https://www.facecuba.org/bookshop and also in Amazon and Kindle.
August 26, 2025: FACE Oral History Project funded by the Knight Foundation
The first iteration of FACE’s Oral History Project captured the life experiences, challenges, and triumphs of Cuban exiles, ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations. Through video interviews and multimedia storytelling, the project celebrates the resilience, values, and cultural heritage of those who sought freedom and built new lives in the U.S.
This initiative highlights the profound contributions of the Cuban diaspora, especially in Miami, to the cultural, economic, and civic life of the United States. “Our Oral History Project represents our commitment to preserving the values of our greatest generation of exiles and their progeny. It’s a recognition of the great sacrifices they made on the road to success in their new land of freedom, the U.S.A.” – Nelson Albareda, FACE Chairman 2025-2027
2026: FACE Excellence Awards and Oral History Project 2.0
The FACE Excellence Awards and Oral History Project 2.0 will honor exceptional Cuban American leaders and amplifies the stories that shape the Cuban exile legacy. It is both a celebration of excellence and a preservation of history. The Oral History Project 2.0 is now focusing on second and third generation Cuban Americans.
This celebration will be hosted at the Loews Hotel in Coral Gables on June 3, 2026, from 11 am to 2 pm. For more information, please go to the FACE Events page.
Attendees will include prominent community leaders and members of the Cuban American community. Guests will enjoy:
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A compilation video featuring firsthand accounts from oral history participants.
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A panel discussion and question-and-answer session with Oral History participants.
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An augmented reality exhibit that brings stories to life through immersive technology.
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Networking opportunities with some of the most influential Cuban American leaders in business, arts, education, and civic life.
For additional details about the Oral History Project and the upcoming event, visit www.facecuba.org or contact Victoria Guerrero at victoria@facecuba.org.
BECOME A MEMBER!
Join FACE. Fill out the Membership Application to get networking opportunities, unique event access, reduced admissions, and legislative representation.
2025-2026 BOARD MEMBERS
Aida Levitan
Alberto Ibargüen
Armando Codina
Carlos Codina
Carlos Curbelo
Carlos Gazitúa
César Manuel
Carlos Migoya
Cesar Alvarez
César Pizarro
Claudia Puig
Eduardo García
Eduardo Padrón
Eloy Cepero
Frank Carreras
Isis Pacheco Velasco
Jaime Suchlicki
Jesus Lebeña
Jorge Plasencia
Leslie Pantin
Lili Betancourt
Liliam López
Maria D García
Mario Murgado
Mike Torres
Nelson Albareda
Olga Ramudo
Peter Zubizarreta
René Murai
Sam Verdeja
Sandra González-Levy
Sofía Powell-Cosio
Vicente Castro