In the midst of the Mariel boat lift -- a hurried exodus of refugees from Cuba going to America -- an immigration clerk accidentally presumes that dissident Juan Raul Perez and Dorita Evita Perez are married. United by their last name and a mutual resolve to emigrate, Dorita and Juan agree to play along. But it gets complicated when the two begin falling for each other just as Juan reunites with his wife, Carmela, whom he hasn't seen in decades.

Marisa Tomei
as Dottie Perez

Alfred Molina
as Juan Raul Perez

Anjelica Huston
as Carmela Perez

Chazz Palminteri
as Officer Pirelli

Trini Alvarado
as Teresa Perez

Celia Cruz
as Luz Paz

Diego Wallraff
as Angel Diaz

Angela Lanza
as Flavia

Ranjit Chowdhry
as Indian Immigration Official

Ellen Cleghorne
as Officer Rhoades