In the 1990s, the economic crisis known as the Special Period coupled with the United States' tightening of the embargo led to desperate attempts to leave the island on balsas (rafts, tires and makeshift vessels).
在1990年代，被称作Special Period的经济危机与美国加紧禁运（英语：United States embargo against Cuba）相结合导致借助救生筏（木筏、轮胎、临时船只）离开该岛的激烈的尝试。