MIAMI, United States. — The United States Coast Guard repatriated this weekend another 53 Cuban rafters who had been detained over the past week.
As announced by that federal entity in Twitterthe migrants were returned to the island by the crew of the coast guard William Flores.
The US Coast Guard publication includes statements by Petty Officer Nicole Groll, who reported on surveillance operations to stop illegal incursions in the Florida Straits.
“The Coast Guard and partner agencies are patrolling the Florida Straits, Windward and Mona Passages to stop illegal migration to the United States,” Groll stated.
The Coast Guard reminded migrants that they risk losing their lives at sea because artisanal boats are unsafe and that both the weather and the tide can change suddenly and cause shipwrecks.
That body also requested collaboration from all those sailors and fishermen who come into contact with migrants.
“Any sailor encountering an immigrant vessel notify the Coast Guard and, if possible, offer assistance until the Coast Guard arrives,” the publication added.
At least five Cuban rafters died on December 19 after their boat capsized near the Florida Keys.
At least 19 Cubans who were on board a homemade boat were involved in the shipwreck, and five of them were declared missing.
The nationality of the rafters was confirmed to the authorities by one of the survivors of the incident. However, the identity of the fatal victims or those who saved their lives in the tragedy was not revealed.
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