The Coast Guard repatriated 151 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since July 14.
The Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore crew repatriated 60 Cuban migrants Monday.
The Coast Guard Cutter Raymond Evans crew repatriated 45 Cuban migrants, and the Coast Guard Cutter William Trump repatriated 46 Cuban migrants Thursday.
These repatriations are a result of 10 separate migrant interdictions at sea 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.
“We discourage anyone from taking to the sea and attempting to reach U.S. soil illegally – they are risking their lives with very little chance of success,” said Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. “Navigating the Florida Straits can be extremely dangerous for the unprepared on illegal voyages and often leads to injury or death."
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
Since Oct. 1, at least 5,485 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 Coast Guard Cutter Raymond Evans, Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore and Coast Guard Cutter William Trump are 154-foot fast response cutters homeported in Key West.