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The 26-year-old Cuban, Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves, a resident of Florida, pleaded guilty to participating in a human smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of 16 Cuban migrants at sea in November 2022.
The accused faces a sentence of between five years and life imprisonment in federal prison following her confession in a Miami court on Tuesday, as reported by Local 10.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Dominguez-Nieves admitted to conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States. In 2024, she was charged with offenses related to human trafficking.
Prosecutors reported that Dominguez-Nieves raised $11,500 from the families of migrants in South Florida to finance the deadly journey.
The woman sent that money to an accomplice in Cuba, who loaded 18 migrants onto a small boat without life jackets and with a captain who, according to two survivors, did not know how to operate the vessel, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.
This case was heartbreaking. It was a journey on a fishing boat designed for eight people, but 18 migrants boarded, of which only two survived.
On November 16, 2022, the vessel sank 30 miles from its departure point, leaving 16 fatalities.
Among the victims were children and teenagers, aged between 9 months and 7 years, as well as two 16-year-olds.
Only four bodies were recovered from the sea, and authorities determined that the cause of death was drowning.
Dominguez-Nieves is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11th in the federal court of Miami.
Frequently Asked Questions about Human Trafficking and the Migration of Cuban Rafters
Who is Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves and what is she accused of?
Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves is a Cuban resident in Florida, who pled guilty to participating in a human trafficking operation that resulted in the deaths of 16 Cuban migrants at sea. She admitted to conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States and faces a sentence of between five years and life in federal prison.
What happened to the 16 Cuban rafters in November 2022?
On November 16, 2022, a vessel carrying 18 Cuban migrants sank 30 miles from its departure point, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals. Only two survived the shipwreck, and the victims, among whom were children and teenagers, drowned.
How was the journey of the Cuban migrants that ended in shipwreck financed?
Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves raised $11,500 from the families of migrants in southern Florida to fund the journey. This money was sent to an accomplice in Cuba, who organized the trip on an inadequate vessel.
What measures are being taken to control irregular migration in the region?
Authorities in several countries have intensified monitoring and repatriation operations for migrants. For example, Panama has closed border crossings in the Darién jungle, and the United States has repatriated more than 1,300 Cuban migrants in 2024. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of using legal channels for immigration due to the dangers associated with illegal sea crossings.
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