The U.S. Coast Guard reported on Sunday the interdiction of two vessels carrying migrants in the Caribbean.
In an official statement, U.S. authorities detailed that a total of 14 people of different nationalities were found.
The rafters were transferred to the Bahamas after being intercepted during operations conducted by teams from the Coast Guard and the Southeast National Security Task Force (@HSTF_Southeast).
Although the statement does not specify the nationality of the migrants, the inclusion of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba (@USEmbCuba) and the image released of a vessel similar to those used by the island's rafters suggests that some of the detainees may be from Cuba.
The Coast Guard reiterated its call to avoid illegal sea crossings, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by those who venture into the water in unsafe vessels.
In their message, tagged with the hashtag #DontTakeToTheSea, they warned that these actions jeopardize the lives of migrants and create legal risks when attempting to enter the United States irregularly.
The operations were carried out by the crew of the Cutter Richard Etheridge, which later transferred the migrants to the Bahamian authorities, in accordance with bilateral agreements on repatriation and migration management.
The region continues to experience an increase in irregular migration flows, particularly from Cuba, where the economic and social crisis has led to a rise in maritime departures.
U.S. authorities have reiterated that maritime routes are not a safe option for migrants and urged those seeking to emigrate to do so through legal channels.
At the moment, no additional information has been provided about the intercepted migrants or the conditions of the vessels in which they attempted to make their journey.
Filed under: