in the interim, there are courts who have said police have to get a warrant before they have to get e-mails. what this would do would essentially put this protection into the law. >> in the investigative and law announcer: in london-himl and him jesus- -him- announcer: and up next, "in their own words" a 30 minute u.s. information agency don't wish has cuban refugees cling why they left their homeland. a man seeking asylum rammed a bus in the peruvian embassy is

quickly led 10,000 asylum seeker enter the embassy grounds. , on april 20,isis 1980, the cuban government stated that anyone who wanted lead could do so through the port of mariel. over the next six months approximately 125,000 cubans traveled to key west, florida. ♪ >> in less than 90 days between

april and june of 1980 one and 110,000 cubans lead cuba -- fl eed cuba. they come from the port of mariel to key west, florida in nearly 2000 boats. 25 die in the attempt.

>> why did they come?

why are there so many? how do they feel? ♪

♪ >> the exodus begins on april

14, 1980 when the government of cuba removes its guards from the peruvian embassy and havana. within 24 hours, 10,000 people jam the embassy.

>> while thousands way inside the compound, cubans government holds massive demonstrations against those who wish to leave. ♪ >> for a few days it seems as though a whole country wants to flee.

>> how did they manage to leave? a 26-year-old doctor tells the story.

>> may 2, 1980, havana. nearly 400 persons, mostly for political prisoners, we do process of the united states interests section.

♪

>> the refugees arrive at temporary centers in the united states. a new life. a new hope. ♪

>> the cuban poet and educator comments on some aspects of his homeland.

>> among those who flee is this writer.

the author of "hallucinations" is perhaps the best-known of the young cuban novelists.

>> a technician from the electrical plant in mariel.

♪ after the ordeal comes tranquility. new perspectives and new opportunities for self-expression.

♪ miami, florida. here begins the final processing and the united states for thousands of newly arrived cubans. hundreds of volunteers join public and private groups in helping. left behind are the memories, the anguish, the people. now is the hour to begin again.

♪ [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

announcer: next on american history tv, a conversation with the president of the organization of american historians, jon butler. currently writing a book on religion in urban areas, mr. butler sat down with us to talk