The United States Coast Guard repatriated six individuals to Cuba on Tuesday, following two operations in the Florida Straits that included the interception of a makeshift boat with three Cubans and the rescue of four occupants from a damaged 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) identified an improvised vessel southwest of Cay Sal, in the 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 spotted a disabled Cuban fishing boat with four people on board, about 46 nautical miles (85 kilometers) southeast of Key West.
The coast guard vessel Isaac Mayo arrived at the scene and rescued its four occupants.
In total, the two operations involved seven people, but only six were repatriated to Cuba, as one of the three men intercepted during the first intervention had to be evacuated to land for specialized medical care.
"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 also assisting those in danger.
The Coast Guard explained that the intercepted individuals receive food, water, shelter, and basic medical care while their identity is verified and the necessary 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 monitor irregular migration in the Florida Straits and the Caribbean.
Repatriation occurs amid new maritime incidents involving Cubans. On Monday, another citizen of the island was rescued from a tiny makeshift raft off Key Biscayne, Florida, and was transferred to a Coast Guard vessel for immigration processing.
In September, U.S. authorities also returned 14 out of 15 rafters intercepted near the Bahamas to Cuba, while in June 27 other Cubans were repatriated after being rescued in the Yucatan Channel.
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