U.S. Coast Guard Secures Border, Prevents Cuban Migrant’s Sea Voyage From Ending In Tragedy

By  //  July 15, 2016

Repatriates 33 Cuban Migrants

 US Coast Guard picture shows Cuban migrants trying to cross the Straits of Florida on a 1951 Chevy flatbed truck turned into a "pontoon" boat. (Gregory Ewald/US COAST GUARD/AFP/File)
This U.S. Coast Guard image shows Cuban migrants attempting to cross the Straits of Florida on a 1951 Chevy flatbed truck turned into a “pontoon” boat. (Image by Gregory Ewald/U.S. Coast Guard)

MIAMI, FLORIDA — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore repatriated 33 Cuban migrants last week to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence recently returned to their homeport at Port Canaveral following a 54-day patrol. The crew diverted to the Florida Straits where it focused on drug interdiction and the safety of life at sea for Cuban migrants trying to enter the country.

As one of the largest platforms in Coast Guard Sector Key West’s area of operation during the patrol, the crew interdicted three Cuban migrant vessels and cared for more than 180 migrants.

For the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore, a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in Key West, these repatriations are a result of four separate migrant interdictions at sea within the last week in the south Florida Straits.

In each instance, the Coast Guard helped secure the U.S. border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy.

“Safety of life at sea continues to be the Coast Guard’s primary concern,” said Capt. Aldante Vinciguerra, chief of response for the 7th Coast Guard District.

“Migrants aboard overloaded and unseaworthy vessels are putting their lives at extreme risk of injury and death. The Coast Guard with our partner agencies continue to patrol vigilantly to rescue and repatriate undocumented migrants who take to the sea.”

Coast Guard Cutter Confidence Returns To Port Canaveral From Florida Straits SaturdayRelated Story:
Coast Guard Cutter Confidence Returns To Port Canaveral From Florida Straits Saturday

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

Since Oct. 1, at least 5,241 Cubans attempted to migrate to the U.S. via the maritime environment compared to 4,473 in fiscal year 2015. These statistics represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic.

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The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence recently returned to their homeport at Port Canaveral following a 54-day patrol. The crew diverted to the Florida Straits where it focused on drug interdiction and the safety of life at sea for Cuban migrants trying to enter the country. As one of the largest platforms in Coast Guard Sector Key West’s area of operation during the patrol, the crew interdicted three Cuban migrant vessels and cared for more than 180 migrants. (US Coast Guard Image)