Madrid Spain.- The crew of the Pablo Valent Coast Guard repatriated 40 Cuban rafters this Thursday. The migrants had been intercepted in the Florida Keys this week during two United States Coast Guard (USCG) operations.
The crew of a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations vessel rescued the first group Monday at 12:40 pm, 8 miles south of Key West.
At the time of the interception, water was entering the boat, the Coast Guard specifies through a release.
The second interdiction took place on Tuesday at approximately 1:00 pm, about 20 miles south of Boot Cay.
Once rescued, the migrants received food, water, shelter and basic medical care.
“These people are lucky to be alive after making a dangerous journey on unpredictable seas,” communicated from Twitter Lieutenant Travis Poulos, of the 7th District of the Coast Guard.
Poulos further warned that as hurricane season progresses these trips will become even more treacherous.
#BreakingNews @USCG Cutter Pablo Valent’s crew repatriated 40 Cubans to #CubaThursday.
“As hurricane season progresses, these voyages will be even more treacherous.” – Lt. Travis Poulos.
Press Release: https://t.co/MO7rw1wryY@USEmbCuba #DontTakeToTheSea pic.twitter.com/Dkt1wYcsZP
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 2, 2022
The number of rafters rescued so far this year rises to 2,103
This same week a group of 99 Cuban rafters was repatriate to the Island by the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Paul Clark. They had been detained during seven interdictions that occurred over the weekend off the Florida Keys.
The number of Cubans intercepted trying to reach the shores of the United States from October 1, 2021 (the day the current fiscal year began) to date already rises to 2,103.
In the previous year, 838 Cuban migrants were rescued, a figure much higher than that registered in 2020, corresponding to a total of 49 Cuban rafters.
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