(EFE).- The United States Coast Guard Service (SGC) returned 67 rafters to Cuba in the last two days, the Interior Ministry reported this Friday.
These irregular migrants – 50 men and 17 women – were returned in two operations carried out by the US SGC on February 23 and 24, through the Port of Orozco (Bahía Honda), in the province of Artemisa, according to a detailed official note.
He also indicated that most of the members of this group of rafters reside in the provinces of Matanzas and Villa Clara, and that they tried to reach US territory through seven illegal exits by sea.
Last Monday, the government in Washington deported to Cuba another 31 rafters who tried to reach the North American country.
With these recent deportations, there are 2,367 irregular migrants from various countries so far in 2023.
With these recent deportations, there are 2,367 irregular migrants from various countries so far in 2023
Cuba maintains that it maintains its commitment “to regular, safe and orderly migration” and insists on “the danger and risk conditions for life that illegal departures from the country by sea represent”, but does not admit the causes that lead the migrants to to launch into the Straits of Florida looking for the American coast.
A total of 224,607 Cubans arrived at the southern US border in fiscal year 2022 – between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022 – according to the US Customs and Border Protection Office.
Since last October 1 – which marks the beginning of the current fiscal year – US Coast Guard crews have intercepted 5,740 Cubans, according to their statistics.
The Government of Washington implemented at the beginning of 2023 a policy to welcome 30,000 migrants per month from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua.
In parallel, it will immediately expel undocumented immigrants from those countries who try to cross into its territory irregularly to Mexico.
Mexico, for its part, agreed to admit 30,000 migrants a month who are expelled from US territory.
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