MIAMI, United States. – This Tuesday, the United States Coast Guard repatriated to the Island 55 Cuban rafters intercepted in the Straits of Florida in six different operations, according to a statement of the US body.
On May 9, Key West Coast Guard agents were alerted to the presence of a rustic, inflatable boat approximately 14 miles south of Salt Cay, Bahamas. On the same day, they were also informed of another vessel about 40 miles south of Key West.
Meanwhile, two days later they were notified of the sighting of two other groups of Cuban rafters in the vicinity of American Shoal Light and 15 miles south of Key West.
Finally, on Friday, May 13, they intercepted two other rustic vessels approximately 33 miles south of Key West and 40 miles south of Marathon, respectively.
Cubans continue to throw themselves into the sea, indicates the Coast Guard
“We urge families in the United States to encourage their loved ones to migrate legally,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Cobb, a security officer for Coast Guard District Seven in the wake of the soaring illegal migration of Cubans in the past. going from the current fiscal year.
“Illegally crossing the unpredictable Florida Straits in crude and improvised boats is very dangerous and can result in loss of life,” he added.
Since October 1, 2021, the beginning of the current fiscal year, US Coast Guard crews have intercepted 1,879 Cubans, a figure that exceeds the number of migrants from the island intercepted each fiscal year from 2017 to 2021.
According to the agency, the statistics have behaved as follows: 5,396 Cubans intercepted in fiscal year 2016; 1,468 in 2017; 259 in 2018; 313 in 2019; 49 in 2020 and 838 in 2021.
“Once aboard a Coast Guard patrol boat, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention,” the Coast Guard has indicated on other occasions.
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