PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Coast Guard repatriates 23 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 23 migrants to Cuba

 

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MIAMI — Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore's crew repatriated 23 Cubans to Cuba, Saturday, following an interdiction approximately 15 miles south of Big Pine Key and a search and rescue mission off the coast of Key West.

A good Samaritan reported a vessel with 15 people aboard to Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders at 10 a.m. Saturday. A Station Key West law enforcement crew arrived on scene and brought the migrants aboard. They are reported in good health.

For more information about the search and rescue case and suspension, please follow the below links:

Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue 13 from water off Key West

Coast Guard suspends search for 9 missing Cuban migrants off Key West

“Navigating the Florida Straits on a good day is difficult and unpredictable in rustic vessels,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mario Gil, Coast Guard Liaison Officer, Cuba. “Daring these voyages during hurricane force winds and seas are treacherous and lives have a greater rick of being lost.”

Since Oct, 1, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 554 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-