U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to the arrival of Cuban migrants near the Key West International Airport in Florida. The event was captured in a video shared by WPLG Local 10 News, showing a large group of migrants, roughly twenty, docking their wooden vessel along the seawall close to the airport.
According to reports, around 3 p.m., authorities encountered 20 Cuban migrants who had arrived in a wooden fishing boat. The video was recorded by an eyewitness who documented the relief and hope evident among the group after their perilous journey.
However, these migrants were taken into custody and are now facing deportation proceedings, as reported by Adam Hoffner, the assistant chief patrol agent of the Miami sector of the Border Patrol. This incident adds to a series of recent arrivals of Cuban migrants to the Florida coast.
Earlier, on January 14, nine Cuban migrants were detained after reaching Key West in a makeshift boat. Additionally, on January 10, 24 Cuban migrants were intercepted near the same area.
The treacherous sea journey from Cuba to the United States has claimed numerous lives. In 2024, at least 142 Cuban migrants perished in their attempts to reach Miami, according to a report from the Missing Migrants Project by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Despite these dangers, many Cubans continue to undertake this risky voyage in search of better living conditions, driven by the island's economic and social crisis. U.S. authorities maintain a strict policy regarding irregular migration, enforcing deportation proceedings for those caught arriving without legal documentation.
Understanding the Cuban Migration Crisis
Why do Cuban migrants risk the dangerous journey to the United States?
Many Cubans embark on this perilous journey in search of improved living conditions, as they are driven by the severe economic and social crisis on the island.
What happens to Cuban migrants once they reach the U.S.?
Once apprehended, Cuban migrants are typically subject to deportation proceedings as part of the U.S. government's strict policy on irregular migration.
How many Cuban migrants have died in 2024 attempting to reach the U.S.?
In 2024, at least 142 Cuban migrants have lost their lives trying to reach Miami, according to the International Organization for Migration's report.