Elián Gonzalez Biography

(Cuban Citizen Who Got Embroiled in Immigration Controversy)

Birthday: December 6, 1993 (Sagittarius)

Born In: Cardenas, Cuba

Elián Gonzalez is a Cuban industrial engineer. In 2000, as a young boy, he was the subject of a bitter international custody and immigration dispute, which involved the governments of Cuba and the United States, his father, Juan Miguel González Quintana, his other relatives in Cuba and Miami, Florida, and Miami's Cuban American community. While trying to get to the United States from Cuba illegally with her boyfriend and Elián, his mother perished at sea. At first, he was put with his paternal relatives in Miami who wanted to keep him in US, disregarding his father’s demands of sending him back to Cuba. A US district court in Florida ruled that only his father, and not the relatives, could apply for asylum on his behalf. This judgement was vindicated by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Following the US Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case, Elián was sent back to his father in Cuba. He has since grown up and studied industrial engineering at the University of Matanzas. Following his graduation, he joined a state-run company as a technology specialist.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Elián González Brotons

Age: 30 Years, 30 Year Old Males

Family:

father: Juan Miguel González

mother: Elizabet Brotons

Born Country: Cuba

Cuban Men

Notable Alumni: University Of Matanzas

More Facts

education: University of Matanzas

  • 1

    What happened to Elián Gonzalez in 2000?

    Elián Gonzalez was at the center of an international custody battle when he was found floating on an inner tube off the coast of Florida in 1999. He was eventually returned to his father in Cuba in 2000 after a lengthy legal and political dispute.

  • 2

    Where is Elián Gonzalez now?

    Elián Gonzalez currently lives in Cuba and has largely stayed out of the public eye since the custody battle in 2000.
  • 3

    What impact did Elián Gonzalez's case have on U.S.-Cuba relations?

    Elián Gonzalez's case strained relations between the United States and Cuba, leading to diplomatic tensions and protests on both sides.
  • 4

    Did Elián Gonzalez become involved in politics or activism?

    Elián Gonzalez has largely stayed out of the public spotlight and has not been actively involved in politics or activism since the custody battle in 2000.
  • 5

    How did the media cover Elián Gonzalez's story?

    Elián Gonzalez's story received extensive media coverage both in the United States and internationally, with many outlets following the custody battle closely and reporting on the political implications of the case.
Childhood & Early Life
Born on December 6, 1993, in Cárdenas, Cuba, Elián is the son of Juan Miguel González Quintana and the late Elizabeth Brotons Rodríguez. His parents divorced at some point.
On November 21, 1999, Elián, his mother, her boyfriend, and several others boarded a small aluminium boat with a faulty engine and made their departure from Cuba. Their destination was the United States.
Eilan’s mother, along with ten others, perished during the crossing. Elian and two other passengers survived. They were found by two fishermen who took them to the US Coast Guard.
He was eventually put under the care of his paternal great-uncle, Lázaro, by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). ‘The Washington Post’ reported that when Juan Miguel came to know that Elizabeth had left Cuba with their son, he reached out to Lázaro and requested him to keep an eye out for them.
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Involvement of US Federal Authorities
Attorney General Reno instructed the relatives to hand over Elián to his father by April 13, 2000, but they refused. A Florida family court judge subsequently took away Lázaro's temporary custody.
The relatives threatened violence if the federal authorities came to their property to take the boy. On 22 April 2000, over a hundred federal agents conducted the raid and secured Elián.
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Reunion with His Father
Elián saw his father again four hours after the raid at Andrews Air Force Base. The following day, a photograph showing a smiling Elián with his father, stepmother, and half-brother was published by the White House. The relatives said it was not the real Elián in the picture. While Elián and his father were in US, the relatives tried every legal option available to them.
On June 1, 2000, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling of the US District Court. On 28 June, the US Supreme Court denied the relatives’ request to hear the case. On the same day, Elián travelled back to Cuba.
Later Years
Elián was raised by his father and stepmother in Cárdenas. In 2015, it was revealed that he had plans of marrying his high-school sweetheart. He graduated with a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Matanzas in July 2016 and was subsequently hired as a technology specialist at a state-run company that supplies large plastic water tanks.
Facts About Elián Gonzalez

Elián Gonzalez, a Cuban national, was at the center of an international custody battle in 2000 after he was found floating in an inner tube off the coast of Florida.

Despite his young age, Elián Gonzalez became a symbol of the complex and often contentious relationship between the United States and Cuba.
After being returned to Cuba, Elián Gonzalez went on to lead a relatively private life away from the media spotlight.
Over the years, Elián Gonzalez has expressed gratitude for the support he received from both Cuban and American individuals during his time in the United States.
Elián Gonzalez's story continues to serve as a reminder of the impact that political tensions can have on the lives of individuals, especially children.

See the events in life of Elián Gonzalez in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Elián Gonzalez Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/elin-gonzalez-49537.php

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