Marielito

American  

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

noun

• Marielitos
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Marielitos
  plural

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

See Examples For:

Marielito Marielitos

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Miami has by far the largest Marielito population.

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

The bill would permit Marielitos, as permanent resident aliens, to bring their families to the U.S. after a three-year waiting period.

From Time Magazine Archive

Most Marielitos have found life in the U.S. rough going.

From Time Magazine Archive

D'Rivera, already fatigued with explaining this and with insisting that "all the Marielitos are not so bad," has taken recently to saying that the song is about the leading lady of Star 80.

From Time Magazine Archive

The greatest frustration Marielitos face is separation from loved ones, whether in Cuba or a third country.

From Time Magazine Archive

Whatever brought them to the U.S., the Marielitos have one shocking discovery in common: this is no paradise.

From Time Magazine Archive