MIAMI, United States. – This Friday, the Coast Guardsman Charles Sexton, of the US Coast Guard, repatriated to Cuba 86 rafters that were intercepted in seven different operations between May 7 and 11 near the Florida Keys, according to the US agency in a statement.
Last Saturday, May 7, Coast Guard agents covering the Key West sector were notified of a rustic boat that was about 30 miles south of Islamorada. That same day, they were also informed of the presence of another raft about eight miles south of Plantation Key.
On May 7, they were alerted to a homemade boat seen approximately 10 miles south of Key West. Meanwhile, on Sunday the 8th they found another group of Cuban rafters about 35 miles southeast of Caesar’s Creek, Cayo Largo.
The following Monday they intercepted another rustic boat about 25 miles south of Key West; while on Tuesday they rescued another group of illegal migrants who were about 40 miles south of Long Key.
Finally, on Wednesday they were notified of a new rustic boat that was about nine miles south of Woman Key.
In total, 86 Cubans were rescued in the seven operations.
Cubans continue to throw themselves into the sea, indicates the Coast Guard
“We urge families in the United States to encourage their loved ones to migrate legally,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Cobb, a security officer for Coast Guard District Seven in the wake of the skyrocketing illegal migration of Cubans in recent years. going from the current fiscal year.
“Illegally crossing the unpredictable Florida Straits in crude and improvised boats is very dangerous and can result in loss of life,” he added.
Since October 1, 2021, the beginning of the current fiscal year, US Coast Guard crews have intercepted 1,779 Cubans, a figure that exceeds the number of migrants from the Island intercepted each fiscal year from 2017 to 2021.
According to the agency, the statistics have behaved as follows: 5,396 Cubans intercepted in fiscal year 2016; 1,468 in 2017; 259 in 2018; 313 in 2019; 49 in 2020 and 838 in 2021.
“Once aboard a Coast Guard patrol boat, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention,” the Coast Guard has indicated on other occasions.
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