MIAMI, Nov 19 2016 – The US Coast Guard has repatriated 90 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since Tuesday.
The Coast Guard Cutter Raymond Evans repatriated 62 Cuban migrants on Tuesday and 28 Cuban migrants on Wednesday.
These repatriations are a result of eight separate at-sea migrant interdictions in the South Florida Straits. In each instance, the Coast Guard helped secure the US border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
“Migrants attempting to illegally enter the United States by boat often travel aboard dangerously overloaded and ill-equipped vessels,” said Cmdr. Willie Carmichael, deputy chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. “People aboard these vessels are putting their lives at extreme risk. Immigration policies have not changed, the Coast Guard’s missions have not changed. Migrants interdicted at sea will be returned to their country of origin in accordance with immigration laws.”
The Coast Guard has observed an increase in illegal maritime migration attempts to the Southeastern US from Cuba. The Coast Guard 7th District estimates 687 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate via the sea since October 1. In fiscal year 2016, 7,411 Cubans attempted to illegally migrate via the sea compared to 4,473 in fiscal year 2015. These numbers represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic.
