119 Cubans repatriated after interceptions in the Straits

The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 119 Cubans to Cuba on Monday after authorities made a dozen separate migrant interceptions in a three-day span in the Florida Straits, the agency said Tuesday.

Since the beginning of fiscal year 2022 in November, 586 Cuban migrants have attempted to “illegally migrate” to the U.S. via the sea compared to 838 Cuban migrants in the entire 12-month period of FY 2021, according to the Coast Guard.

„ On Thursday, a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations flight crew made a report to Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders at 11:30 a.m. about a vessel about 20 miles west of Cay Sal, Bahamas.

„ About 30 minutes later, a boat crew reported a vessel about five miles southeast of the mangrove islands of Marquesas, west of Key West.

„ About 2:45 p.m., a Coast Guard Station Marathon boat crew reported a vessel about 35 miles south of Cudjoe Key. Then at 5:30 p.m., a boat crew reported a vessel about 25 miles east of Biscayne Bay.

„ On Friday, a civilian reported at 8:45 a.m. a vessel about two miles southwest of Key West. At 12:30 p.m., a civilian reported another vessel about 20 miles south of Long Key.

„ And one hour later, a civilian reported seeing people in the water after their raft capsized about 38 miles southeast of Alligator Reef. A Coast Guard boat crew arrived on scene and transferred the people from the civilian’s boat.

„ At 9 a.m. Saturday, a civilian reported a vessel about 25 miles west of Boot Key. At 11 a.m., a Coast Guard air crew reported a vessel about 20 miles south of Boca Chica.

“Navigating the seas in a less-than-seaworthy vessel is dangerous and could result in loss of life,” said Capt. Adam Chamie, Commander of Sector Key West.

“Coast Guard crews and our local and federal law enforcement partners maintain an active presence with air and sea assets every day through the Florida Straits to help save lives by removing people from unsafe environments and deterring dangerous migrant voyages. We urge people not to take to the sea in unseaworthy vessels,” Chamie said.

On the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 4, a group of 15 people from Cuba came ashore in the Florida Keys.

The Coast Guard urged people in the U.S. inquiring about possible family members interdicted at sea to contact their local U.S. representative. Relatives located outside the U.S. should contact their local U.S. embassy, the Coast Guard said.