PBS This is a picture of Elián González with his father and family members that was taken a few hours after their reunion at Andrews Air Force Base on April 22nd, 2000. It is described as "released by the government" on the website of the Public Broadcasting Station from where it is sourced. image:40975:0::0

Elain is now 14 and living with his father who regained custody of his son in a heated battle. He was among 18,000 people who joined the youth communist group on Saturday.

As the law is written a person from Cuba who makes it to US soil can assert a claim to refugee status. That was the dream of young Elian's mother when she and her son joined twelve others in a small aluminum boat for Miami. When the boat's engine failed all but three died in the ocean. Elian adrift on an inner tube was fished from the sea by two fisherman who handed him over to the U.S. coast guard.

The INS released the little boy to his paternal great uncle Lazaro Gonzalez of Miami. On November 22, 1999 Miguel González-Quintana, Elian`s father, called his uncle and asked for the child to be returned to Cuba. Miguel stated that Elian`s mother removed their son from Cuban soil without his permission.

Thus began a huge custody battle between the relatives and in effect Cuba and the United States.

In the end Elian`s father won the battle and his son was flown to Cuba from Dulles International Airport on June 28, 2000.