Mirta Ojito
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author who emigrated from Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boatlift; later wrote Finding Mañana about her experience and explores themes of identity and belonging.
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Feb 3, 2026 • 11min
Cuba's Mariel boatlift
Mirta Ojito, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who left Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, recalls her teenage decision to flee and the tense scenes at the barbed-wire camps. She describes overcrowded boats, a dramatic rescue by a Vietnam vet, and how news of criminals among migrants reshaped US reactions and policy.
