Marielito

American  

[mahr-ee-uh-lee-toh, mah-rye-lee-taw] / ˌmɑr i əˈli toʊ, ˌmɑ ryɛˈli tɔ /

noun

plural

Marielitos

1. a refugee from Cuba who came to the U.S. in 1980 as part of a mass migration that sailed from Mariel, Cuba.

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Etymology

Origin of Marielito

First recorded in 1980–85; from Latin American Spanish (Cuba), equivalent to Mariel, the port from which the migration began + -ito noun suffix, usually diminutive

Example Sentences

Yet Cuba refuses to accept any Marielito, criminal or not.

From Time Magazine Archive

In December 1984, Castro agreed to take back 2,746 Marielito criminals and mental patients.

From Time Magazine Archive

Carlos Alfonzo, 38, a Marielito exile from Havana who now lives in Miami and is perhaps the most gifted young artist in the show, paints somewhat under the influence of Wilfredo Lam.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last April, Sarmiento became the first Marielito to earn an FLU. engineering degree.

From Time Magazine Archive

Miami has by far the largest Marielito population.

From Time Magazine Archive