Coast Guard intercepts ‘migrant vessel’

A tugboat overloaded with 37 Cubans onboard that officials say was on its way to Florida was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and its occupants were taken back to Cuba on Sunday.

Earlier, the agency received a report that a possible “migrant vessel” was about 23 miles north of Havana and was heading north, officials said.

The Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton was diverted to the scene and found the boat that was carrying 29 Cuban males and 8 females.

The agency provided food, water and medical attention to the migrants. One person was treated for chest pains at a hospital, according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Cutter William Trump repatriated the group to Cabanas, Cuba.

“Many times these vessels we interdicted are overloaded and unsafe, and the risk simply isn't worth the possible reward," said Lt. Commander James Hodges, a Coast Guard 7th District law enforcement duty officer. The William Trump and Charles Sexton are 154-foot cutters based in Key West. “The combined efforts of the Charles Sexton and William Trump cutter crews led to this successful rescue mission, and I'm proud of everyone involved,’’ he added.

Since Oct. 1, about 82 Cuban migrants have tried to illegally mi-

grate to the United States through the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and the Atlantic, according to the Coast Guard.

Last month, 27 Cuban migrants aboard a makeshift wooden boat came on shore in Virginia Key in Miami. While some were able to get away, 15 were detained by U.S. Border and Customs Protection officials “for further processing and removal.”

In early 2017, the Obama administration reversed the so-called “wet foot, dry foot” policy that began in 1995 and granted permanent residency to Cubans who made it to U.S. soil after fleeing their country.

U.S. COAST GUARD/COURTESY A tug boat with 37 Cubans was on its way to Florida when it was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard.