PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard repatriates 28 migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/20/2018 02:10 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Photo Release  

July 20, 2018

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
Contact: 7th District Public Affairs
Office: 305-415-6683
After Hours: 786-367-7649
7th District online newsroom

Coast Guard repatriates 28 migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba

A 26-foot rustic vessel with 28 Cuban migrants makes way through the waters of the Florida Strait Tuesday, July 17, 2018 north of Havana while Coast Guard, and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine units intercept the illegal voyage.

Boatcrews from the Coast Guard Cutters Isaac Mayo and Charles David Jr. approach a 26-foot rusitc vessel with 28 Cuban migrants Tuesday, July 17, 2018 during an at-sea interdiction.  A Coast Guard Station Key West 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew, a Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo boatcrew, and a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations marine unit intercept a 26-foot rustic vessel in the Florida Straits Tuesday, July 17, 2018 with 28 Cuban migrants aboard.

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 MIAMI — The Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo crew repatriated 28 migrants Friday to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard 7th District Command Center received a report from the Cuban Border Guard Saturday of a northbound rustic vessel with approximately 25 people aboard. The watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo from a patrol to intercept the vessel. 

A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine DHC-8 aircraft crew initially located a 26-foot rustic vessel with 28 migrants aboard at approximately 9:30 a.m. Saturday north of Havana. The aircrew vectored in the Isaac Mayo crew who intercepted the motorized rustic vessel and passed along a child life jacket while remaining near the non-compliant migrant vessel.

“The highly effective collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies is more important than ever when it comes to combatting smuggling,” said Hector Rojas, Deputy Director, CBP Marine Operations at the Miami Air and Marine Branch. “The success of this event is a testament to the importance of information sharing, quick response, and partnerships.”

Assisting the Isaac Mayo was the Coast Guard Cutter Charles David Jr., a Coast Guard Station Key West 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boat, and a CBP AMO Key West marine unit.

"U.S. immigration policies have not changed and we urge people not to take to the ocean in unseaworthy vessels,” said Capt. Jason Ryan, the chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard's 7th District. “People aboard are putting their lives at risk attempting illegal voyages in homemade vessels without proper navigation or safety equipment.

After making the interdiction, the Isaac Mayo crew safely embarked 20 males, seven females and one child aboard the cutter.

“The Coast Guard with our partner agencies will continue to patrol vigilantly to rescue and repatriate undocumented migrants who take to the sea," added Ryan.

Approximately 189 Cuban migrants have attempted to illegally migrate to the U.S. via the maritime environment since Oct. 1 compared to 1,989 Cuban migrants in fiscal year 2017. These numbers represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, Caribbean and Atlantic.

Once aboard Coast Guard cutters, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and medical attention.

The Isaac Mayo and Charles David Jr. are 154-foot fast response cutters homeported in Key West.

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-USCG-