(EFE). -The arrival of at least 300 migrants during the last two days at the Dry Tortugas National Park, in the Florida Keys, forced its temporary closure this Sunday as of tomorrow while the authorities attend to and rescue the new arrivals from the islets that they are stranded
The Coast Guard reported that it is aware of the disembarkation of multiple migrant boats this weekend in the park, located more than 70 miles west of Key West, where they will be transferred.
The reserve, a chain of islets in the Gulf of Mexico, will be closed to visitors starting January 2 and for several days, the National Park Service reported yesterday, noting there has been a recent increase in people arriving in boat from Cuba to the park and other sites in the Florida Keys.
“Concession-operated ferry and seaplane services were also temporarily suspended,” he said.
The closure is necessary for the safety of visitors and for authorities to have the space and facilities to care for migrants, federal authorities said.
The closure is necessary for the safety of visitors and for authorities to have the space and facilities to care for migrants, federal authorities said.
The Coast Guard and other federal, state and local agencies are coordinating efforts to rescue people currently stranded on the remote and uninhabited islands, said Rear Admiral Brendan C. McPherson, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District.
The soldier pointed out that the migrants will receive food, water and basic first aid before being transferred to federal immigration agents and then processed by Border Patrol to determine their legal status, if they remain in the United States or are repatriated, he also explained. director of the Southeast Homeland Security Task Force.
“Irregular and illegal maritime migration is always dangerous and very often deadly. Do not go to sea.”
Say since last October 1, the Coast Guard has intercepted 3,839 Cubans at sea, a significant escalation in detentions compared to the 838 intercepted in the entire fiscal year of 2021 and the 6,182 in 2022.
According to figures provided by the US authorities, in fiscal year 2020 there were only 49 Cuban immigrants intercepted, and in 2018 the number reached 259, while in 2017 and 2016 1,468 and 5,396 Cubans were intercepted at sea, respectively.
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