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The 1960’s saw the beginnings of mass immigration as exiled Cubans fled political persecution in their homeland. At the signing of the 1965 Immigration Bill on Liberty Island, President Lyndon Johnson announced, “…I declare this afternoon to the people of Cuba that those who seek refuge here in America will find it.”
This lay the groundwork for the Freedom Flights, or Los Vuelos de la Libertad.
From 1965 to 1973 an estimated 300,000 refugees flew into Miami. There they were processed at Freedom Tower, which is now a National Historic Landmark memorializing its role in so many journeys.
– Margaret Willard, The 100 Companies