Elian Gonzalez is a Cuban boy who became famous in the United States in 1999 when he was found floating on an inner tube off the coast of Florida. He had survived a dangerous journey from Cuba, where he was trying to escape to the U.S. after his mother died at sea. His case sparked a national debate about immigration and custody. After being rescued, Elian was placed with relatives in Miami, but his father in Cuba wanted him to return home. The situation led to a legal battle that ended in 2000 when federal agents forcibly returned him to Cuba. Elian's story remains a significant event in U.S.-Cuba relations.