An international drama occurred 45 years ago when almost 125,000 Cubans left their island nation for the United States. About 25,000 of those Cuban refugees--known as Marielitos because they departed ...

In 1980, Cuban President Fidel Castro announced that anyone who wanted to leave Cuba was free to do so from the port of Mariel. As a result, nearly 125,000 Cubans jumped on watercrafts and headed to ...

*Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories. Cancel anytime. FILE - In this May 1980 file photo, refugees from Cuba stand on the deck of their boat as they arrive at a rainy Key West, Fla.