PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Coast Guard repatriates 59 migrants to Cuba

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast Contact: 7th District Public Affairs Office: 305-415-6683 After Hours: 305-202-3735 7th District online newsroom

Coast Guard repatriates 59 migrants to Cuba

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MIAMI — Coast Guard cutter Kathleen Moore and Charles Sexton crews repatriated 59 Cubans to Cuba, Monday and Tuesday, following four interdictions south of the Florida Keys.

A Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo law enforcement team launched at approximately 3:30 p.m. June 9, after a good Samaritan reported seeing more than 10 people aboard an unseaworthy boat 27 miles south of Long Key. The law enforcement team interdicted 16 Cuban migrants. The migrants were transferred to the cutter and reported in good health. Eleven of the migrants were repatriated Monday by the Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore crew and five were repatriated Tuesday by the Charles Sexton crew.

A Station Islamorada law enforcement team launched at approximately 1 p.m. June 9, after a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crew reported an unseaworthy boat heading north from 20 miles east of Key Largo with four people aboard. The law enforcement team interdicted four Cuban migrants and transferred them to the cutter. The migrants were repatriated Monday by the Kathleen Moore crew and reported in good health.

A Station Key West law enforcement team launched at approximately 12:30 p.m. June 10, after a good Samaritan reported more than 20 people signaling for help on an unseaworthy boat 40 miles north of Havana, Cuba. The law enforcement team interdicted 29 Cuban migrants and transferred them to the cutter. One migrant was taken to shore for higher medical care and the remaining 28 were repatriated Monday by the Kathleen Moore crew, reporting in good health.

A Station Miami Beach law enforcement team launched at approximately 10 a.m. June 12, after a good Samaritan reported people aboard an unseaworthy craft 10 miles east of Elliot Key. The law enforcement team interdicted 11 Cuban migrants and transferred them to the cutter reporting in good health. The migrants were repatriated Tuesday by the Charles Sexton crew.

“U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies actively patrol the Straits of Florida. The U.S. Government strongly discourages attempts to illegally enter the United States by taking to the sea.” said Lt. Cmdr. Mario Gil, Coast Guard Liaison, U.S. Embassy Havana “Taking to the sea on unseaworthy vessels is not only illegal, but highly dangerous, and attempts to transit these unforgiving waters often turn out deadly.”

Since Oct. 1, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 465 Cubans compared to:

• 5,396 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2016
• 1,468 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2017
• 259 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2018
• 313 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2019
• 49 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2020

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19. 

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-USCG-