In a dramatic turn of events, five individuals out of more than 40 Cuban rafters were returned to their homeland by the U.S. Coast Guard this Wednesday after a daring rescue at sea. Initially, these five were saved by a sailor who pulled them from the waters when their makeshift vessel overturned.
The U.S. Coast Guard revealed that the Sector Key West watchstanders received a report from a good Samaritan about an improvised vessel on Sunday, approximately 47 miles southwest of Islamorada. It was noted that this good Samaritan successfully rescued five people from the water after the vessel capsized.
Another interception occurred on December 11, about 50 miles south of Marathon. A crew from the Coast Guard Air Station Miami's HC-144 aircraft alerted the Coast Guard's Seventh District watchstanders about a boat carrying a large number of migrants, who were also Cuban.
Once aboard a Coast Guard ship, the rafters undergo processing to verify their identities and receive basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and medical attention before being repatriated to their country of origin or the nation they departed from.
"The Coast Guard, alongside our state and local partners, is actively patrolling this holiday season to detect and intercept illegal maritime migration," stated Lieutenant Thomas Pease, a law enforcement officer from the Coast Guard's Seventh District. "Despite the relatively warm waters of the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, water temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees still pose a risk of hypothermia with prolonged exposure," he added.
The Coast Guard emphasized that "any individual attempting illegal migration by sea will be rescued and returned to their country of origin or departure." On this particular Wednesday, the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Paul Clark repatriated 43 individuals to Cuba following the two aforementioned interdictions.
As of now, there have been 90 repatriations from regional countries in 2024, with a total of 1,312 irregular migrants being sent back, according to the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) this week. Recently, eight Cuban rafters were rescued by an oil tanker after their vessel sank near the Cayman Islands at the end of November, as reported by the Customs and Border Control (CBC). Additionally, numerous rafters are returned from the Bahamas, but the primary destination for many Cubans remains the southern coast of Florida, from which most intercepted at sea are sent back.
Cuban Migrant Interceptions and Repatriations
What happens to Cuban migrants intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard?
Cuban migrants intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard are processed to verify their identities and are provided with basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and medical care before being repatriated to their country of origin or the nation they departed from.
How many Cuban migrants have been repatriated in 2024?
In 2024, a total of 1,312 irregular Cuban migrants have been repatriated from regional countries, according to the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
What are the risks faced by Cuban rafters attempting to reach the U.S.?
Cuban rafters face several risks, including capsizing of their makeshift vessels and dangerous water temperatures that can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.