MIAMI, United States. — The United States Coast Guard deported this Thursday 177 Cuban rafters who were intercepted trying to reach the coast of the northern country.
A press release from that body that was echoed Press media indicates that the migrants had been detained in several operations deployed at the beginning of the week and that they were returned to the island by two coast guard vessels.
The number of deported Cubans reported by the Coast Guard now stands at 824, after three such operations carried out between Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The United States Border Patrol detained on the last day 50 Cuban rafters who arrived in three different groups in the Florida Keys area. Two of the groups were intercepted on Long Key, while the other was on Key Marquesas, a group of uninhabited islands located about 50 kilometers west of Key West.
In accordance with the protocols established by the US protection agencies, the migrants are expected to be repatriated in the coming days.
The detention and deportation of Cubans occurs as part of the reinforcement of controls in the Florida Keys area, the scene for several months of the massive arrival of migrants by sea.
From October 1, 2022 to date, the Coast Guard has intercepted more than 5,000 Cuban migrants who tried to reach the United States by sea.
Mark Cobb, Lt. Cmdr. of the Coast Guard, called on Cubans to take advantage of the new legal pathways available to enter the United States and to desist from illegal maritime incursions.
“We urge all people to use the safe and legal means available to travel to the United States. Don’t put your life at risk by going to sea when you don’t have to,” said the officer in statements collected by that agency.
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