KEY WEST, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard interdicted six Cuban migrants on June 6 about 39 miles east of Islamorada, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release.
Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders received a report from another vessel on the scene with a wooden rowboat that carried with six people who were asking for water. The watchstanders diverted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Charles David Jr. (WPC-1107) to assist.
The cutter’s crew arrived on scene and embarked the six people, who claimed Cuban nationality, due to safety of life at sea concerns with the unsafe vessel.
“Those who are interdicted at sea attempting to illegally immigrate will be repatriated to their country in accordance with existing U.S. immigration policy.”
Cmdr. Michael Vega, 7th District enforcement branch
“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 of the Coast Guard 7th District’s 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.”
A total of 308 Cuban migrants have attempted to illegally enter the U.S. by sea in fiscal year 2019 compared to 384 in fiscal 2018. These numbers represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
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