A group of 16 Cuban rafters were repatriated this Tuesday by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), following a failed attempt by the authorities to reach the shores of Florida.
A crew of coastguards intercepted the "makeshift vessel" carrying the Cubans last Friday, approximately 15 miles (about 24 kilometers) southwest of Gun Cay, Bahamas, the agency reported in a statement.
The rafters had been detected shortly before by the crew of the HC-144 from the Miami Coast Guard Air Station, which alerted the command center of the Miami Sector, according to the official report.
The command's guards redirected the crew of the coast guard ship Manowar to carry out the interception of the Cuban vessel.
The rustic boat, measuring 25 feet in length and bearing the inscription "Gloria de Dios" on its bow, was carrying men and women from the island, as seen in the videos shared by the USCG.
Since the beginning of fiscal year 2025, on October 1, Coast Guard crews have returned a total of 98 migrants to Cuba, the agency's statement emphasized. This number contrasts with the 749 migrants repatriated to the island in fiscal year 2024.
"The Coast Guard, in coordination with officials from the Southeast National Security Task Force (HSTF-SE), maintains a continuous presence using aerial, terrestrial, and maritime resources in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage, and the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Sentinel Vigilant," stated the USCG. "The combined approach of multiple levels of the HSTF-SE is designed to safeguard the security of life at sea while simultaneously preventing illegal entry by sea into the United States and its territories."
Despite the increased operations to prevent the arrival of immigrants by sea to the U.S., Cuban rafters continue to risk their lives to make the journey in the hope of reaching Florida.
On January 19 and 20, two vessels were detected by the Coast Guard, with a total of 12 people on board. The first one was about 21 miles south of Long Key, and the other was found, stranded, approximately 50 miles southwest of Cuba, in the Yucatán Passage, where its seven occupants were rescued. The 12 rafters were repatriated on January 29.
The repatriation of the 16 Cuban migrants this Tuesday occurs at a critical moment in the implementation of the immigration policies of the administration of President Donald Trump, following his assumption of power for a second time on January 20.
The new government's strategy is focused on stopping illegal immigration to the U.S. at all costs and protecting the country's borders and its citizens.
The arrests and mass deportations of undocumented foreigners, including violent criminals, have characterized the immigration actions carried out by the Trump administration in just over three weeks.
However, while large sectors of the country applaud the measures, a significant part of American society questions them. The permanent immigration operations have generated growing uncertainty among immigrants without legal status, who fear being detained and deported.
The White House justifies its policy as the only way to strengthen control and curb illegal immigration into its territory, through the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
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