The 125,000 Cuban citizens allowed by the Cuban government to migrate to the United States from the port of Mariel, Cuba, included a small proportion with criminal histories, mental disorders, or both. These individuals would not have been allowed to enter the United States if they had been properly screened. Although the Federal Government detained some of these individuals, others were released directly into American communities where they committed particularly violent crimes and were sentenced to relatively long terms in State prisons. The Federal program has reimbursed only an average of 10 percent of the annual costs incurred by New York State for incarcerating Mariel Cubans. In 1991, the Department of Correctional Services was able to secure only 8 percent of the estimated $12,263,494 in costs for these inmates. Appended tables and sample inmate information sheet (Author abstract modified)