The Elian Gonzalez Saga – Then and Now

A Miracle at Sea

In a city accustomed to tales of daring escapes from Castro’s Cuba, the story of Elian Gonzalez stood out. On Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1999, a fragile, angelic-looking five-year-old was found clinging to an inner tube by fishermen in the Gulf Stream off Fort Lauderdale. Elian was one of only three Cuban nationals to survive when a boat carrying his family capsized. Tragically, eleven others—including his mother—drowned.

“He was a miracle child, unscathed after two days in the Gulf Stream.”

Surviving two days in the water unscathed, the boy was quickly dubbed “el niño milagro”, the miracle child, and his story would ignite a media frenzy and political battle that gripped Miami for months.

Miami’s Media Circus

Upon arrival in Miami, Elian was placed in the custody of his Miami uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, while the Cuban government demanded his return. What followed was a highly orchestrated and chaotic spectacle: photographers, reporters, TV crews, and self-appointed political operatives transformed a modest Little Havana home into the world’s most scrutinized front yard.

Veteran Miami Herald photographer Tim Chapman called it:

“The most disgusting exhibition of journalism I’ve seen in my 38-year career.”

Bill Cooke and AP photographer Alan Diaz chronicled Elian’s every move: eating Happy Meals, playing with a black Labrador puppy named Dolphin, decorating a Christmas tree, and attending his first day at school.

Even Elian’s public appearances were stage-managed by political consultant Armando Gutierrez, who arrived each morning with pastelitos and café Cubano for the press corps.

“Elian helped pay for my house,” joked Diaz, reflecting on the marathon coverage of the child’s every move.

U.S. Government vs. The Miracle Child

By January 2000, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno sought to reunite Elian with his father in Cuba. The Miami family resisted, filing appeals and maintaining the boy in their care. The street outside their home became a barricaded battlefield of protesters, media, and political figures, while the public watched on television and in newspapers worldwide.

Finally, on April 22, 2000, federal agents arrived at the Gonzalez home before dawn and took Elian back to Cuba in under three minutes. The iconic photo of a frightened six-year-old being seized at gunpoint by federal agents, captured by Alan Diaz, would later earn Diaz a Pulitzer Prize.

“Through no fault of his own, this six-year-old boy became the single greatest destructive force in South Florida since Hurricane Andrew.” – Jim DeFede

The Life Elian Lives Today

Fast forward to 2026, Elian Gonzalez is 32 years old. After returning to Cuba, he grew up in Cárdenas, living a relatively private life away from the Miami media circus.

• He earned a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Matanzas in 2016.
• Elian worked as a technology specialist at a state-run company and focused on building a professional life in his hometown.
• He is now married with a young daughter, named in honor of his late mother.
• In April 2023, Elian was sworn in as a member of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power, representing Cárdenas.

Elian maintains a relatively private life, balancing work, family, and politics, far removed from the global spotlight that once defined his childhood.

Legacy of a Miami Story

Though Elian Gonzalez is no longer a fixture of the Miami streets, the impact of his story remains a defining chapter in Cuban-American history and media coverage. From miraculous survival to intense political and legal battles, his story reminds us of the power of human endurance—and the far-reaching consequences of a small boy’s journey across the sea.

Timeline: Key Dates

• December 6, 1993: Elian Gonzalez born in Cárdenas, Cuba.
• November 25, 1999: Found alive in the Gulf Stream off Fort Lauderdale.
• November 26, 1999: Taken to Miami relatives’ home; media circus begins.
• January 4, 2000: First day at Lincoln-Marti School in Little Havana.
• April 22, 2000: Federal agents remove Elian from Miami home; returned to Cuba.
• 2016: Graduates from University of Matanzas in industrial engineering.
• April 2023: Sworn in as member of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power.
• 2025: Lives in Cárdenas, married with one daughter, and working in politics and technology.

Editor's Note: Originally published on April 17, 2010. Updated in 2026, while preserving Bill Cook's original perspective.