Two U.S. Coast Guard cutters recently returned a combined 92 migrants on Wednesday, April 24, following four separate interdictions of unlawful, irregular migration attempts over the weekend.
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo transferred 40 people to the Bahamas, following two interdictions of migration attempts on Friday, April 19.
The first interdiction occurred when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Miami received notification from Border Patrol and CBP Air and Marine Operations crews that Miami-Dade Police were on scene with a migrant venture in Biscayne Bay.
The second interdiction occurred that night, when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received notification from Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crews of a migrant venture south of Key Largo.
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter William Trump repatriated 52 people to Cuba following two migration attempts on April 19 and April 21.
The first interdiction occurred Friday morning when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received notification from Monroe County Sheriff’s Office of a migrant venture south of Boot Key.
The second interdiction occurred Sunday night when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received notification from U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Willow of a migrant venture south of Marathon, Florida.
“These unlawful voyages are extremely dangerous and can often result in the loss of life,” said Lt. Zane Carter, Coast Guard Seventh District Enforcement Officer. “The Coast Guard continues to work daily with our local and federal partners to stop illegal maritime migration voyages and to preserve the safety of life at sea.”
April was a busy month for the Coast Guard, with numerous rescues and repatriations.
On April 19, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter William Trump repatriated 19 migrants to Cuba following an interdiction of a migrant venture near Key West on Saturday, April 13.
On April 12, Border Patrol agents and Coast Guard officers rescued 14 Cuban migrants who arrived in the Dry Tortugas National Park on an island near Fort Jefferson on a homemade vessel, according to Samuel Briggs II, acting chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol at the Miami Sector.
On April 4, U.S. Border Patrol agents and its partner agencies responded to a migrant landing in Tavernier and took 14 Cuban migrants into federal custody after the group arrived on a rustic vessel, according to Briggs.
Earlier this year, the Keys experienced a smaller, but significant, influx of Cuban rafters. During the first week of the year, Coast Guard crews returned 56 migrants to Cuba following multiple interdictions off the Florida Keys, and responded to another 30 Cuban migrants, including small children, who arrived in the Marquesas Keys. The following month, a Coast Guard crew repatriated 25 Cuban migrants after an interdiction near Key West.
Coast Guard crews have repatriated 419 migrants to Cuba in fiscal year 2024, which began on Oct. 1.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention.
The number of Cuban migrants making their way to land in the Florida Keys and South Florida has dropped dramatically since the one of the largest mass migrations of Cuban nationals occurred during the holidays going into 2023. From Dec. 30, 2022 to Jan. 2, 2023, 427 Cuban migrants made their way to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, 59 made their way to the Marquesas and 326 arrived in the mainland Florida Keys, according to Beal.
Following the mass migration, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the members of the Florida National Guard to the Keys, as well as additional Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers.
Also, Customs and Border Protection sent 12 additional agents to the Keys. FHP and FDLE brought six aircraft to the Keys in response to the increase in Cuban migrants.
The Coast Guard increased its patrols in the Florida Straits. All efforts resulted in fewer Cuban and Haitian migrants making their way to the mainland Florida Keys.
The Coast Guard and its Homeland Security Task Force — Southeast partners continue to be a presence in the air and on the waters to detect and deter migrants from attempting to unlawfully enter the U.S. by sea.
Anyone attempting to unlawfully enter the United States by sea will be rescued and repatriated to their country of origin or departure, and anyone who arrives in the U.S. unlawfully by sea will be processed for removal and returned to their country of origin or departure.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention.
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