I was still a lurker during the Elien days, but it was fairly simple. It was a matter of priorities. Everyone pretty much agreed that provided he was fit, a child belonged with his father. Everyone pretty much agreed that a child was better off in Florida than in Cuba. Unfortunately, that's where the rubber met the road. Those who gave the higher priority to keeping a boy with his father were excoriated by those who believed it was best he stay in America, even if it meant he would never see his father again. The latter in turn called the former every name in the book. It was pure ugliness.
IIRC, his mother died in getting him to America to hopefully grow up in a free country.
There's nothing wrong with that.