MIAMI, United States.- The United States repatriated several of the Cubans who stole a boat from the port of Mariel to escape the island, the local news channel reported on Friday. America TeVe.
According to the report, relatives of some of the Cubans who have not yet been sent to Cuba confirmed that they are in the custody of the Coast Guard, and they fear that their “repatriation is imminent.”
“The relatives are desperate after receiving confirmation from the authorities that those who stole the boat in Cuba are in the custody of the Coast Guard, but could be returned to the island.” Already several of them were repatriated on Friday, they said.
“I am concerned by reports of 22 Cubans leaving the port of Mariel in Cuba earlier this month in a stolen speedboat. In 2003, the Cuban regime executed 3 Cuban citizens for trying to escape on a ferry based in Regla under similar circumstances,” said Cuban-American Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart.
“I hope that cases like these are handled sensibly, in light of the regime’s long history of abusing Cubans who try to flee,” he added.
The Cubans who left the Mariel and have already been repatriated, they arrived on the island as part of a group of 120 migrants that the US sent to Havana after at least seven arrests of vessels on the high seas between the previous week and this week.
“The Coast Guard Cutter Reliance crew repatriated 120 Cubans to Cuba on Friday, after several interdictions on the Florida coast during Hurricane Ian,” the Coast Guard said in a statement Friday, September 30.
The US federal agency intercepted some 6,182 Cubans throughout fiscal year 2022, which ended on September 30.
“Going out to sea at any time carries significant risk; going to sea during a hurricane is completely unwise,” Capt. Robert Kinsey of Coast Guard District Seven said in a note.
“We just sunk at least one unseaworthy ship (USCG usually sinks makeshift boats after getting their crews to safety) and we’re looking for 17 souls. We can only pray that our crews find them so that their families and loved ones can rest. Our air and surface crews are on patrol and are vigilant to prevent illegal and unsafe ventures,” Kinsey confirmed.
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