The United States Coast Guard says it has increased the repatriation of Cuban migrants, with 109 repatriated to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since Oct. 15.
The Coast Guard said on Saturday that the Cutter Raymond Evans repatriated seven Cuban migrants Oct. 15; the Cutter Charles David Jr. repatriated seven Cuban migrants Oct. 19 and 76 Cuban migrants Oct. 25; the Cutter Diamondback repatriated 15 Cuban migrants Oct. 22; and the Cutter William Trump repatriated four Cuban migrants Thursday.
These repatriations are a result of seven separate at-sea migrant interdictions in the South Florida Straits, the Coast Guard sad.
In each instance, the Coast Guard said it “helped secure the US border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy.”
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, the Coast Guard said all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
The Coast Guard said it has observed a “steady increase in illegal maritime migration attempts to the Southeastern US from Cuba.”
The Coast Guard 7th District estimates that 332 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate via the Caribbean Sea since Oct. 1.
In fiscal year 2016, the Coast Guard said 7,411 Cubans attempted to illegally migrate via the sea, compared to 4,473 in fiscal year 2015.
