Coast Guard Interdicts 49 Haitian Migrants 21 Miles Northeast of Cuba

MIAMI
— The Coast Guard interdicted 49 Haitian migrants Saturday approximately 21
miles northeast of Punta Maisi, Cuba, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a
July 1 release.

The
crew of the Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS
Groningen (P-843) with a Coast Guard law enforcement team interdicted a 35-foot
Haitian sail freighter with 49 migrants aboard, three of those being
unaccompanied children. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa (WMEC-902)
was diverted to assist.

The
cutter Tampa crew arrived on scene and embarked the 49 migrants — 39 males and
10 females, due to safety concerns with the vessel.

“The Coast Guard continues to maintain a focused and coordinated
effort with multiple agency assets to interdict any attempt to dangerously and
unlawfully immigrate by sea to the United States,” said Cmdr. Michael Vega,
Coast Guard 7th District enforcement branch. “Those who are interdicted at
sea attempting to illegally immigrate will be repatriated to their country in
accordance with existing U.S. immigration policy.”

Approximately 2,932 Haitian migrants have attempted to illegally
enter the U.S. via the maritime environment in fiscal year 2019 compared to
2,727 Haitian migrants in fiscal year 2018. These numbers represent the total
number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida
Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic. Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all
migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.