Escape from Cuba: Episode 1: The First Escapes (1960s)

What caused the first mass escape from Castro’s Cuba?In this episode, we explore the first major Cuban exodus of the 1960s, when thousands fled the island through dangerous journeys, secret flights, and heartbreaking family separations.This episode covers three of the most important escape routes from Cuba:✈️ Operation Pedro Pan (1960–1962) — Over 14,000 Cuban children sent alone to the United States in one of the largest child refugee operations in history🌊 The Camarioca boatlift (1965) — A sudden, chaotic opening that allowed Cubans to flee by sea through the port of Camarioca🛫 The Freedom Flights (1965–1973) — The largest organized Cuban refugee airlift, bringing hundreds of thousands of Cubans to MiamiFrom Cold War tensions to personal stories of separation and survival, this episode breaks down the origins of Cuban migration, the policies behind it, and the human cost of leaving everything behind.This is the beginning of a much larger story…🎧 Part of the series: Escape from Cuba — 67 Years of Escapes