As fast as Cubans in the United States began to support Castro they began to realize his total control over the economy and the government. Cubans feared Castro's communist ties, including his relations with the former Soviet Union. Cuban exiles in the United States urged the U.S. goverment to launch an invasion on Cuba, and take the land away from Castro.
When the United States refused Cuban exiles gathered together with their own weapons in hopes of launching an independent invasion. The United States was still competing with the former Soviet Unin for global domination. The government finally gave in to the exile's requests, and the United States began to formulate a plan. In January of 1961 President Dwight D. Eisenhower broke off all diplomatic relations with Cuba .The Central Intelligence Agency began training Cubans against the revolution for an invasion of the island.
On April 17, 1961 some 1500 armed refugees, landed on the south coast of Cuba at the Bahia de Cochinos ( Bay of Pigs ). The exiles expected to receive support from the local people. They also expected to receive the support of U.S. fighter planes that had been promised by President Kennedy. The plan was to cross the island, until they reached Havana. However,Kennedy had broke his promise, and never sent the planes. The exiles were left at Castro's mercy. On April 19 the fighting ended. Ninty people had been killed, and the rest were taken prisoners.
The attempt had failed, and the Kennedy administration was blamed by many for not offfering enough support, and by some for allowing the invasion to take place.
As a result of the Bay of Pigs Castro began to stop voluntary emigration. He feared that those who were disloyal to the now Marxist -Lennist state of Cuba would share information with the United States government. He became suspicious of anyone who wanted to leave, and threw many people in jail instead of simply allowing them to immigrate. Castro's grip on the country had tightened.
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