Nearly 30 Cuban migrants taken to Bahamas after boat takes on water miles off Key West
The U.S. Coast Guard transferred 28 Cuban migrants to Bahamian authorities on Tuesday after rescuing them about 100 miles southeast of Key West, the military branch said in a news release.
The migrants were taken to the Bahamas because they were found in Bahamian waters, said Petty Officer Nicole J Groll, a Coast Guard spokeswoman.
An Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew dropped off a radio and supplies Friday after a flare alerted them to people stranded on Anguilla Cay, according to the Coast Guard.
On Sunday, a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations air crew notified Sector Key West at about 9:45 a.m. of a vessel taking on water off Cay Sal. About six hours later, an Air Station Clearwater C-130 Hercules aircrew notified Coast Guard Sector Key West of a vessel off Elbow Cay.
“The Coast Guard and our partners increased their presence in the waters around Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas to help prevent loss of life,” Coast Guard District 7 Lt. E’Bria Karega said in the release. “The risk of loss of life when taking to the seas is great.”
Since Oct. 1 last year, Coast Guard crews have detained 1,053 Cubans.
In previous years, the Coast Guard has detained:
- 5,396 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2016
- 1,468 Cuban migrants in FY 2017
- 259 Cuban migrants in FY 2018
- 313 Cuban migrants in FY 2019
- 49 Cuban migrants in FY 2020
- 838 Cuban migrants in FY 2021
Family members in the U.S. inquiring about possible family members interdicted at sea can contact their local U.S. representative. Relatives located outside the United States can contact their local U.S. Embassy.
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 5:01 PM.
