In 1979, the couple fled Nicaragua and lost their home and valuables to the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

The Meneses family fled Nicaragua via Los Angeles in 1988 when Meneses was only 17.

Mr. Rodriguez fled Nicaragua in 1988 to avoid being drafted by the Sandinista Government to fight against the American-backed rebels.

But he also pointed to the hemorrhage of a half-million or more skilled artisans, professionals and managers who had fled Nicaragua during the Sandinista regime.

On July 17, 1979, General Somoza fled Nicaragua, and the next day, his 24th birthday, Mr. Calderon did the same.

In 1980 he fled Nicaragua for Miami where he began to organize the 15th of September Legion to oppose the Somoza regime.

Arce himself had fled Nicaragua with his father, a major in Somoza's National Guard, on the day of the Sandinista victory, July 19, 1979.

That leaves 500 places for the thousands who have fled Nicaragua and El Salvador.

He invented the dispenser in the 1980's, after fleeing Nicaragua during the Sandinista revolution.

We have held in our arms children no more than 4 years of age who've been shot while trying to flee Nicaragua to a safe haven.