Over the past three days, the US Coast Guard has intercepted 84 Cubans in five separate vessels, authorities said.
The Coast Guard repatriated all the migrants on Wednesday. “These trips are dangerous on crude, makeshift boats with no food, no water, no safety gear,” said Lt. Travis Poulos of Coast Guard District Seven.
The vessels were seen by civilian sailors and by Coast Guard planes. Four were located south of Marathon, in the Florida Keys, and one 23 miles southwest of Cayo Sal, in the Bahamas.
“Our air and surface crews, along with our local and federal law enforcement partners, work together every day maintaining an active presence in the Florida Straits and the Mona and Windward Passages to help save lives by deterring these trips,” Poulos said.
Since October 1, 2021, the Coast Guard has intercepted 1,446 Cubans trying to cross the Straits of Florida.
Once rescued, the migrants receive food, water and basic medical attention before being taken back to Cuba.
