Coast Guard Repatriates Cuban Migrants Found Near Key West
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 27 migrants back to Cuba Saturday.
On December 18, the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute discovered a rustic vessel about 45 nautical miles southwest of Key West with 12 Cuban migrants aboard.
A few hours later, another boat was found carrying 15 Cuban migrants about 10 nautical miles behind the first boat.
The migrants in both boats were treated and safely transported back to their country.
Since the beginning of October, the Coast Guard 7th District estimates that 1,334 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate via the sea. This represents the total amount of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic.
Officials believe the numbers are up as Cubans have begun to worry that the U.S. will soon end their wet-foot-dry-foot policy allowing those who make it here to stay.
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