The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated six individuals to Cuba this Tuesday, following two operations carried out in the Florida Straits that included the interception of a makeshift boat carrying three Cubans and the rescue of four occupants from a disabled fishing vessel.
The repatriation was carried out by the Coast Guard USCGC Isaac Mayo, as confirmed by the institution in an official statement.
The first operation took place on Thursday, October 8, when an aircraft from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detected an improvised vessel southwest of Cay Sal, Bahamas.
A HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from the Coast Guard located the vessel, and the crew of the USCGC Raymond Evans brought three Cuban men on board.
One of them had to be evacuated to shore to receive specialized medical attention.
The second operation took place on Sunday, October 11, when a U.S. aircraft detected a damaged Cuban fishing vessel with four people aboard, approximately 46 miles southeast of Key West.
The coast guard ship Isaac Mayo arrived at the scene and rescued its four occupants.
In total, the two operations involved seven people, of whom six were repatriated to Cuba. One of the three individuals intercepted in the first intervention had to be evacuated to shore for specialized medical attention.
"Our crews remain vigilant to protect our maritime borders and safeguard life at sea," stated Captain Aaron Ortenzio, commander of the Coast Guard Air Station in Miami.
The official emphasized that both interventions reflect the institution's commitment to preventing irregular maritime entries into the United States while simultaneously assisting those in danger.
The Coast Guard explained that the intercepted individuals receive food, water, shelter, and basic medical care while their identities are verified and the appropriate procedures are carried out.
The operations are part of Vigilant Sentry, a surveillance device that combines aerial, land, and maritime resources to respond to emergencies and manage irregular migration in the Florida Strait and the Caribbean.
The repatriation occurs amid new maritime incidents involving Cubans. On Monday, another citizen of the island was rescued from a tiny makeshift raft off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida, and was taken to a Coast Guard vessel for immigration processing.
In September, U.S. authorities also returned 14 out of 15 balseros intercepted near the Bahamas to Cuba, while in June 27 other Cubans were repatriated after being rescued in the Yucatán Channel.
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