MIAMI, United States. – The US Coast Guard repatriated 49 Cubans this Wednesday, according to a statement of the US body. The operation occurs just two days after repatriation to the Island of 38 rafters intercepted in Key West.
The 49 returnees approached the Florida Keys on four different boats between April 29 and April 1. of May.
On April 29, Key West Coast Guard agents were notified of the presence of a rustic boat about 30 miles south of that key. Meanwhile, two days later, agents from the same Coast Guard sector were notified of the presence of another rustic vessel about 2.5 miles southeast of Key Largo.
That same day (May 1), Coast Guard Air Station Miami alerted Key West lookouts to a new migrant vessel some 23 miles south of Long Key.
Finally, on Sunday itself, Coast Guard agents were notified of another boat that “was taking on water” about 16 miles south of Key West.
“When our crews arrive on scene, not one migrant is wearing a life jacket, and the boats are usually taking on water because they are crude and unsafe and built with anything that floats,” said Petty Officer Nicole J. Groll, a member of the 7th Coast Guard District. “These trips are dangerous and the risk of loss of life is great,” she added.
In his communications, The Coast Guard also specified that since October 1, 2021 (beginning of the current fiscal year), its different crews have intercepted 1,556 Cuban rafters, a figure that exceeds the number of migrants from the island intercepted each fiscal year since 2017. until 2021.
According to the agency, the statistics have behaved as follows: 1,468 Cuban migrants intercepted in fiscal year 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 care,” said the US agency, which once again encouraged Cubans not to jump into the sea.
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