The United States Border Patrol detained 14 Cuban rafters this Friday morning after they arrived at Long Key State Park, south of Miami, in a rustic boat, confirmed the authorities. They all appear to be in good health.
This incident occurs one day after more than 150 Haitians were intercepted by the Coast Guard near Boca Chita Key, on the outskirts of the Miami metropolitan area.
In that case, Coast Guard officials say a person saw the boat after it ran aground Thursday. Coast Guardsmen gave the migrants life jackets and water as they transferred the large group to Coast Guard Cutters.
Immigration and coastal protection authorities have detected in recent months a marked increase in migration attempts in the waters of Florida and the Caribbean Sea.
In May, a ship carrying 842 Haitian immigrants headed for the United States ended up in Cuba.
In April, US Coast Guard crews rescued 88 Haitian migrants from a sinking ship in the Florida Straits.
The Coast Guard also said that it has intercepted 3,470 Cuban immigrants since October 1, 2021.
All the rafters have been returned to the island, so it is expected that those captured this Friday will suffer the same fate, probably this weekend, since lately the authorities are processing the cases expeditiously.
News in development…
