A group of 12 Cuban rafters were repatriated this Tuesday by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) after being intercepted at sea, as reported by the authorities.
A post on X specified that Cuban migrants were detained 13 miles off the coast of Islamorada, in the Florida Keys.
The report did not provide any further details about the circumstances in which the Cubans were intercepted.
The repatriation was carried out by the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Raymond.
Authorities once again urged Antilleans not to risk their lives at sea trying to reach the shores of Florida.
The avalanche of Cubans heading towards the United States, whether by sea or land, shows no signs of coming to an end.
Almost 19,000 Cubans entered the U.S. through its borders just in the month of May, according to data published by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Of the total, 7,491 did so by sea, confirming that the influx of Cuban rafters to the United States continues.
The U.S. government continues to insist that all individuals who attempt to arrive or arrive illegally by sea will not be able to remain in the country, will be processed in accordance with American laws and policies, and returned to their country of origin or departure.
In the case of migrants who arrive by sea and are detained by the Border Patrol after reaching U.S. soil, they are processed to be returned to their country of origin by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Enforcement and Removal Operations Office (ERO), with a ban on legally re-entering that country for five years.
Despite the authorities' efforts to deter Cuban rafters, illegal migration by sea remains an option for those who are determined to leave the country at all costs and have no other way to do so.
At the beginning of July, the US Coast Guard explained how they search for rafters' vessels in the waters of the Florida Strait.
The Voice of America program boarded one of the surveillance planes from the USCG and showed how they patrol daily the waters between Cuba and South Florida in search of immigrants trying to enter the United States irregularly.
The coast guard explained in the report that they are trying to locate unsafe boats loaded with migrants who are attempting to reach the country's coast through an extremely dangerous sea, as the Strait has a width of 150 km at its narrowest point and a depth of 1,800 meters.
They explained that they are looking for a unique profile that stands out from a cruise ship or a recreational vessel, something that resembles a very rustic boat. The technicians also view the boats on specialized radars and night infrared sensors.
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