Coast Guard Repatriates 52 Cuban Migrants
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- As a result of three separate migrant interdictions at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard has repatriated dozens of Cuban migrants back to their home country.
On Saturday, crews located a make-shift raft south of Key West with 26 migrants aboard, including 7 suffering from gunshot wounds. Six of them were taken to a local area hospital.
The next day, two more vessels were discovered -- one carrying 7 migrants and another with 25 -- near the same area. Though, they were all unharmed.
"Safety of life at sea continues to be the Coast Guard's primary concern," said Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. "The dangerous waters of the Florida Straits can be unforgiving for the unprepared on ill-advised and illegal voyages. Immigration policies have not changed and we urge people not to take to the ocean in unseaworthy vessels. It is extremely dangerous and illegal."
Since October 1st, the Coast Guard 7th District estimates that 2,753 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate via the sea.