The United States Coast Guard repatriated to 19 Cuban rafters this Monday, after multiple interceptions of migrants attempting illegal entry by sea.
And official statement details that these actions were carried out within the framework of the Operation Vigilant Sentrywhose objective is to control and reduce irregular migration by sea to the United States.
During the operation, it was reported four different cases. In the first, Coast Guard District Eight received a call from a merchant vessel that had rescued three Cubans in the Gulf of Mexico. The rafters were transferred to the Coast Guard’s Cutter Oak.
In the second case, a good Samaritan reported to the Coast Guard Station in Key West about a migrant vessel 12 miles south of Boot Key, Florida. A crew from Marathon Station rescued a Cuban who was transferred to the Cutter Oak.
The third incident involved an aircraft from the Coast Guard Air Station in Miami, which sighted a disabled vessel with six people on board, 25 miles east of Jensen Beach, Florida.
The rafters had left Cuba six days earlier, but they ran out of fuel, drifting. They were rescued by a crew from Fort Pierce Station and transferred to the Cutter William Sparling.
The fourth case was reported to the guards at the Key West Station, detailing that it was a boat with 10 migrants on board. They were four miles south of Marathon, Florida, so they were treated by the Marathon Station crew and then transferred to Cutter Oak.
Lt. Commander John W. Beal, public affairs officer for Coast Guard District Seven, stressed that the top priority is preventing loss of life at sea.
He warned about the consequences of trying to enter the United States illegallyincluding disqualification from future immigration opportunities, ineligibility for asylum, and possible court proceedings.
The United States government highlights that Operation Vigilant Sentry is a crucial part of efforts to manage migration in the Caribbean region, ensuring security and compliance with its country’s immigration laws.
