Refugees from Cuba abandoned this makeshift raft after making a 90-mile ocean journey to reach the United States shore at Islamorada in the Florida Keys and automatically qualify to become residents. Under law, any Cuban refugee caught at sea is sent back home, while those who make it ashore are granted permanent legal status after one year and the right to apply for citizenship after five years. An increase in Cuban refugees has occurred ever since the resumed diplomatic ties with Cuba in 2015.


Refugees from Cuba abandoned this makeshift raft after making a 90-mile ocean journey to reach the United States shore at Islamorada in the Florida Keys and automatically qualify to become residents. Under law, any Cuban refugee caught at sea is sent back home, while those who make it ashore are granted permanent legal status after one year and the right to apply for citizenship after five years. An increase in Cuban refugees has occurred ever since the resumed diplomatic ties with Cuba in 2015. This crude vessel was made with two inflated inner tubes from truck tires joined together by tree branches. Among the items left behind were a rusted tire pump, clothing, floats, and a small bag of fruit.


Size: 2531px × 3800px
Location: Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida Keys, Florida, USA
Photo credit: © Michele and Tom Grimm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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