Miami calm as Elian's U.S. departure nears

Elian Gonzalez

June 28, 2000
Web posted at: 1:24 p.m. EDT (1724 GMT)

MIAMI (CNN) -- Despite the likelihood that Elian Gonzalez's stay in the United States will end Wednesday, authorities in Miami were not expecting violence or major demonstrations. Cuban-American leaders said that while the battle was lost, they would continue to oppose Cuba's communist leadership.

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the 6-year-old boy's return to Cuba by refusing to hear an appeal filed by his Miami relatives who had waged a seven-month legal battle to keep Elian in the United States against his father's wishes.

That means a court order keeping Elian in the United States expires at 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday.

By evening, Elian and his Cuban relatives -- now staying in the Washington area -- could be home.

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"This, to us, is not a political defeat. We are involved in a war. This is just a battle," said Jose Basulto of the Cuban exile group Brothers to the Rescue. "This is a family tragedy for this community."

Prior to the Supreme Court action, some of Elian's Miami relatives stopped by their former home in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, where federal agents carried out an early morning raid to remove Elian in April.

A handful of protesters gathered quietly outside but were greatly outnumbered by journalists.

Elian's cousin, Marisleysis Gonzalez, accompanied by a small boy, brushed aside reporters' questions.

With her was one of Elian's great-uncles, Delfin Gonzalez, who complained that the news media failed to report Cuba's abuses.

The subdued gathering was a far cry from the days in April when chanting crowds packed the street, vowing to form a human chain to stop federal agents from taking Elian.

Flags and signs still draped the chain-link fence in front of the home. "Wake up America -- fraud is not the law," said one. "Clinton and Gore love communists," said another.

There appeared to be resignation among Cuban-Americans that what they feared most -- Elian's return to Cuba -- is about to happen.

And if it does, the community response is expected to be relatively peaceful.

"We abide by the law," Cuban-American activist Sylvia Iriondo told CNN. "We'll be very saddened thinking about what the child will have to encounter upon his return to Cuba. But we will continue our struggle, so there are no more children like Elian."

Correspondent Mark Potter and Reuters contributed to this report.

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