MIAMI — The Coast Guard repatriated 142 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since Sept. 8, 2016.
The Coast Guard Cutter William Trump crew repatriated 43 Cuban migrants Saturday; the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo crew repatriated 63 Cuban migrants Wednesday and another 36 Cuban migrants Friday.
These repatriations are a result of 15 separate at-sea migrant interdictions in the South Florida Straits. In each instance, the Coast Guard helped secure the U.S. border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy.
"The Coast Guard and our partner agencies continue to diligently patrol the waters around the United States to deter illegal migrant activity," said Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. "Our main concern is the safety of life at sea. When migrants put their lives in the hands of smugglers, or take to the sea aboard unseaworthy vessels, they put their lives at grave risk.”
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
Since Oct. 1, at least 6,850 Cubans attempted to migrate to the U.S. via the maritime environment compared to 4,473 in fiscal year 2015. These statistics represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic.
The cutters are 154-foot fast response cutters homeported in Key West.
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