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The 2000's
 Elian Gonzalez

Elian Gonzalez
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   9.58

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    oppressive, controversy, controversial, illegal, crossing, custody, tragedy, divorce, refused, ordinary, better, incident, nighttime, status, natural, aboard
     content words:    Elián González, Andrews Air Force Base, Elian Gonzalez, United States, Many Cubans, Cold War, Fidel Castro, Coast Guard, Naturalization Service, Miami Cuban

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Elian Gonzalez
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     Caption: This is a picture of Elián González (second from right) with his father and family members that was taken a few hours after their reunion at Andrews Air Force Base on April 22nd, 2000.
 
2     Like the families of many other kids, Elian Gonzalez' family was a divorced one. Since the divorce, he had spent time with both parents although his mom had custody of Elian. Then his mom died suddenly in a tragic accident.
 
3     In situations like this, many families have had to deal with conflicts and problems. In Elian's case, the conflicts escalated into an international incident with the highest elected officials in the United States and Cuba taking sides.
 
4     It began when Elian's mother decided to leave Cuba with Elian and come to the United States. Emigration to America was illegal according to both Cuba and the US, so the only way to come to the US was to sneak in. Many Cubans had done this before, crossing from Cuba to Florida in small boats.
 
5     Those who did reach Florida were usually allowed to stay. They were considered refugees from an oppressive government whose lives would be in danger if they tried to return.
 
6     This was part of a controversial policy that had evolved over the years since the Cold War between communist countries and democratic countries. Fidel Castro, the Communist leader of Cuba, was still seen as an opponent of the United States, and so Cubans fleeing his country to come to America were given special status.
 
7     Since immigrants who arrived illegally from other countries, including Mexico and Haiti, were not given the same treatment, this policy was a controversial one.
 
8     Elian and his mom started out on their journey from Cuba to Florida in a small boat with twelve other people. A storm wrecked their small boat and killed most of the people aboard including Elian's mom. Elian and two other people survived. Elian, only six years old, floated alone on an inner tube until he was rescued by a fisherman and turned over to the Coast Guard.

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