After being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, and transferred aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Knight Island, 53 Cuban migrants were repatriated to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Friday.
These repatriations are a result of five separate attempts to illegally migrate to the United States aboard rustic vessels in the Florida Straits stemming back to Monday.
“The Coast Guard and our local partners are maintaining a robust presence in the Florida Straits using a variety of surface and aviation assets and continually seeking ways to most effectively deploy force packages,” said Cmdr. Timothy Cronin, deputy chief of enforcement for the 7th Coast Guard District.
In the month of June, 217 Cuban migrants have been interdicted by the Coast Guard.
[mappress] Press Release, July 01, 2014; Image: U.S.C.G.