Operation Pedro Pan

During the Cold War, thousands of Cuban children were sent to the US in Operation Pedro Pan to escape political turmoil. Initiated by James Baker and Monsignor Brian Walsh, the operation secretly evacuated over 14,000 children with US support. Many children were placed with relatives, foster families, or in orphanages. The operation ended in 1962 due to the Cuban Missile Crisis, leaving many children unable to reunite with their families. The operation remained largely unknown outside southern Florida for years.

What challenges did Cuban children face upon arriving in the United States?

How did the Cuban Missile Crisis impact the return of Cuban children to their families?