Abstract	A black and white photograph of Mariel migrants swimming in a drainage ditch within the Fort McCoy detention center. A handmade sign in the foreground reads, "Bienvenidos a la Playa de los refugiados Cubanos! Viva Carter," which translates to "Welcome to the Beach of Cuban Refugees! Long live Carter." The back of the photograph is captioned, "A dammed-up drainage ditch in the 500 block of the refugee compound converts to a Cuban Refugee Beach, or "Playa del Refugiados Cubanos". Refugees took the opportunity to cool off on a hot July day."
Abstract	Photograph of Cuban refugees who arrived in Wisconsin in 1980 as a result of the Port of Mariel exodus, showing everyday life in the refugee detention center at Fort McCoy, Wis.
Abstract	During Fidel Castro’s rule in Cuba, many adults and minors were assaulted by officials and imprisoned for offenses including political protest, drinking in public without consuming food, their sexuality or gender expression, and failure to serve in the military. In 1978-1980, Cubans sought asylum at international embassies in Havana, and the Cuban government retaliated with force. In April 1980, Cuban officials opened the Port of Mariel to anyone, including prisoners, who wanted to emigrate to the U.S. In the midst of the Cold War, the Carter administration welcomed these asylum seekers to the U.S. This event is the “Mariel Boatlift.”
Abstract	The Mariel Boatlift was the largest and most controversial Cuban exodus to the United States. Over 100,000 Cubans arrived to the shores of Florida in the spring of 1980. The Cuban-Haitian Immigration Task Force (CHITF) set up four camps for the resettlement of Cuban Mariel migrants, one of which was Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Fort McCoy was open from April – September 1980, with its refugee population peaking in June at 13,413. Approximately 90% of the Cuban population sent to Fort McCoy was male, aged 25-35, Black or mixed race, had no English language skills, and included approximately 145 unaccompanied minors.
Alternative title	pr070-02-010
	1980-401 unknown source of numbering
	DM-20 unknown source of numbering
	mccoy-19800700-006.tif likely identification given by Fort McCoy's Public Affairs Office
Owner	La Crosse Public Library
	Fort McCoy (Wis.)
Photographer	Mary Bower
Type of resource	still image
Genre	picture
Genre authority	marcgt
Publisher name	La Crosse Public Library
Place of publication	La Crosse, Wis.
Date published	1980-07-00
Date captured	2024-02-02
Language	eng
Width	2.65
Height	3.33
Subject topic	Cuban Americans—Wisconsin—Photographs Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Mariel Boatlift, 1980—Photographs Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Refugees—Cuba—Photographs Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Refugees—Wisconsin—Fort McCoy—Photographs Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Photographs Authority: LCSH
Subject geographic	Fort McCoy (Wis.)
Subject geographic	United States—Wisconsin—Fort McCoy
Subject topic	Fort McCoy (Wis.) Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Noncitizen detention centers Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Refugee camps—1980-1990 Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Refugee camps—Fort McCoy (Wis.) Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	People—Immigrants Authority: Local
Subject topic	People—Refugees Authority: Local
Subject temporal	1980
Subject topic	Swimming—Refugees—Wisconsin—Fort McCoy Authority: LCSH
Subject topic	Recreation—Refugees—Wisconsin—Fort McCoy Authority: LCSH
Content	Forms part of the Mariel Exodus digital collection held by the La Crosse Public Library Archives
Funding	Funded in part by a 2023 grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the State of Wisconsin
Ownership	The La Crosse Public Library does not own the original image but has been granted permission from the U.S. Army (owner) to share this image
Use and reproduction restrictions	This item is in the public domain. There are no known restrictions on the use of this material.
Collection	Mariel Exodus
ID	139c68a1-abaa-4a4f-8d5d-eb19232b994c/wlac0000/20240913/00000117