A United States Coast Guard cutter on patrol
MIAMI, USA (CMC) — The United States Coast Guard says it has repatriated 109 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since October 15.
On Saturday, the Coast Guard said the repatriations are a result of seven, separate, at-sea migrant interdictions in the South Florida Straits. In each instance, the Coast Guard said it “helped secure the US border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy”.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, the Coast Guard said all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
The Coast Guard said it has observed a “steady increase in illegal, maritime, migration attempts to the South-eastern US from Cuba”.
The Coast Guard 7th District estimates that 332 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate via the Caribbean Sea since October 1.
In fiscal year 2016, the Coast Guard said 7,411 Cubans attempted to illegally migrate via the sea, compared to 4,473 in 2015.