On the morning of April 22, 2000, U.S. federal agents burst into Elian Gonzalez's room at his aunt's Miami, Florida home. Guns drawn, agents took the 6-year-old boy before the Cuban exile community could intervene.

Gonzalez became the centerpiece of an epic battle between the U.S. and Cuba over where he should live out his childhood.

His mother died on board a homemade raft occupied by 10 other people, and Gonzalez while trying to escape Cuba's harsh economic times.

The raft sank, killing her and the other passengers. Gonzalez was discovered by two men floating on an inner-tube, alone, 60 miles north of Miami.

The U.S. Coast Guard carried the boy to the Florida shore. His Miami relatives and the local Cuban community fought to keep him in the U.S., but months of Cuban protests led to President Bill Clinton ordering Gonzalez returned to the island. Clinton said the boy belonged with his father in Cuba, which lead to the dawn raid.

Today, 21-year-old Gonzalez is a Fidel Castro supporter and member of Cuba's Militant Union of Young Communists, reports ABC News. He is also studying Industrial Engineering at the University of Matanzas near his home in Cardenas.

Gonzalez practices karate and swims. He enjoys going to the movies and hanging out with friends.

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez told ABC News that Elian is "a terrific student right now, having a very happy and normal life ... like any university student in Cuba."

In Cuba, Gonzalez is regarded as a hero. He rarely makes public appearances, but has participated in political events. Most recently, he attended President Raul Castro's closing speech to the Council of States in December, according the ABC News. The speech came three days after the historic announcement to restore diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba.

When Gonzalez has spoken publicly, it has been against the U.S. embargo and positively about his life on the island.

What happened to Gonzalez in Miami as a child is viewed in Cuba as symbolic of Fidel Castro's refusal to give in to America's power and the Cuban-American exile community in the U.S.

Gonzalez remains close with Fidel Castro who attended his childhood birthday parties.

He has not commented publicly about the renewed diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Juan Miguel, his father, who fought to have his son returned to Cuba, is currently a member of the National Congress.