MIAMI, United States. – The United States Coast Guard repatriated 169 irregular migrants to Cuba and the Bahamas from Friday to last Tuesday, according to the agency itself. a press release.
These repatriations are the result of nine different incursions, originating from Cuba or the Bahamas. The 169 migrants were intercepted as part of these nine encounters.
The Coast Guard did not specify how many migrants had been specifically repatriated to Cuba and how many to the Bahamas.
The US entity and its partners in the Southeast Homeland Security Task Force continue to have a presence in the air and in the water to detect and deter migrants trying to enter the northern country illegally, according to the agency.
“Our maritime borders are closed,” said Capt. Benjamin Golightly, incident commander for Operation Vigilant Sentry. “It is imperative that family and friends share this information with their loved ones in Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. The journey is dangerous and you could lose your life. You will be intercepted and then repatriated to your country of origin or to the place where you left. In addition, illegal entry or attempts to reach the United States by sea will result in your disqualification from the program parole from Cuba and Haiti,” he added.
Since October 1, 2022, Coast Guard teams have intercepted or encountered 6,679 Cuban and 4,473 Haitian migrants. Once aboard a Coast Guard ship, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical care, according to the US agency itself.
Despite numerous measures taken by the United States government to curb illegal immigration, Cubans continue to attempt to escape Cuba by sea.
On May 9, agents from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Coast Guard detained 21 rafters from the island.
Since the Biden administration launched in January of this year the program of parole humanitarian for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, the US authorities have closed the siege on illegal immigrants, both on the border with Mexico and in the Straits of Florida.
Since last April the US deportation flights to Cubaa measure that will speed up the repatriation of migrants from the Island who try to reach the northern country illegally, or who remain there without regular immigration status.
