MADRID, Spain.- The United States Coast Guard Service (SGC) returned to Cuba a group of ten irregular migrants (nine men and one woman) this Thursday, June 15, after being intercepted at sea in four groups of illegal departures from the island.
According to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), quoted by the official media, one of the returned persons “was on probation for compliance with criminal sanctions at the time of illegally leaving the country, and will be made available to the courts for the revocation of said benefit.”
Last Sunday, two other Cuban migrants were returned to the country from Belize on a commercial flight, for the first time in 2023 from that nation.
With these latest returns, the number of Cubans returned to the island from different countries in the region after their attempt to emigrate rises to 3,927, in 84 repatriation operations.
Since the beginning of 2023, the United States government has reinforced surveillance in the Straits of Florida to stop the illegal arrival of migrants, not only from Cuba, but also from other countries in the area, such as Haiti, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.
“Our maritime borders are closed. It is imperative that family and friends share this with their loved ones in Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. The journey is dangerous and they could lose their lives. They will be intercepted and then repatriated to their country of origin or where they left. In addition, illegal entry or attempts to reach the US by sea will result in your disqualification from the program. humanitarian parole that includes citizens of Cuba and Haiti,” warned Coast Guard Captain Benjamin Golightly recently in statements collected by that entity.
However, the Cubans continue to try to reach the US shores. So far this year, more than 3,000 have been returned to the country by the United States Coast Guard.
