Havana/The US Coast Guard this Thursday returned 14 of 15 rafters that were intercepted last week near Elbow Cay, northern Bahamas. According to a statement, one of the migrants required medical attention, for which he was transferred to land and remains in the custody of the authorities.
The coast guard participated in the operation Pablo Valent and a Coast Guard boat from Marathon Station. The rafters were provided with food, water and basic medical care.
“Cubans should not risk their lives trying to enter the United States illegally by sea,” he stressed. Lieutenant Commander Jon Girotattaché of the Department of Homeland Security at the US Embassy in Havana. The officer highlighted the coordination with authorities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to stop illegal migration.
The arrival of rafters, mainly from Cuba, has decreased considerably since the Trump Administration began to intensify measures against people entering the United States without authorization and apply its mass deportation policies.
Despite this siege, in mid-August, 11 Cubans made the crossing in a stolen boat and managed to disembark at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, a nature reserve located in Key West, Florida. At the beginning of September it was reported that these people would be deported.
The agency stressed that the US border is closed to illegal entries
The agency stressed that the US border is closed to illegal entries. In addition, he recalled that from last January to August 31, crews from the southeast have also intercepted more than 100 illegal maritime transport operations.
The operations with air, land and maritime resources in the Strait of Florida, indicated the US authorities, allowed the interception last Saturday of a boat with 51 people off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. On Tuesday, the group of 34 Dominicans (including two minors) and 17 Haitians were handed over to the authorities of the Navy of the Dominican Republic, while the two minors remained under the guardianship of the National Council for Children and Adolescents.
On August 25, the Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP) announced the expansion of its maritime jurisdiction off the coast of southern Florida, including the entire Keys area, a corridor of special interest due to its proximity to Cuba.
The new control area extends to the southern coast of Florida, the southern coast of California, the Texas Gulf Coast and Puerto Rico. In this way, they pass from 12 to 24 nautical miles that will be guarded by the agency.
With the new provision, customs officers and agents can board vessels, examine the ship and the people and goods on board, carry out searches, take the ship to port and, when applicable laws allow, pursue, seize and make arrests.
