The U.S. Coast Guard recently repatriated migrants to Cuba and Haiti.
“The Coast Guard, alongside Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast partners, works day and night to disrupt and interdict unlawful migration attempts such as these,” said Lt. j.g. Jesus Martinez Borges, a Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer. “Our cooperation with HSTF-SE partners such as Customs and Border Protection, significantly augment our abilities to detect and deter migrants from the life-threatening risks involved with unlawful maritime migration. Don’t take to the seas.”
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo repatriated 41 migrants to Cuba, following multiple interdictions of unlawful maritime migration attempts in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry.
A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations aircrew notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant vessel, approximately 39 miles south of Key West.
A good Samaritan reported a vessel to Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders, approximately 8 miles southeast of Port Everglades in South Florida.
A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations aircrew alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders, of a migrant vessel approximately 58 miles south of Marathon.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, migrants are processed to determine their identity and are provided food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention before repatriation to their country of origin or return to the country from which they departed.
The Coast Guard, along with its Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast partners, maintains a continual presence with air, land, and sea assets in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage, and the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry. The HSTF-SE combined, multi-layered approach is designed to protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories.
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Diligence repatriated 182 people to Haiti, following an interdiction south of Turks and Caicos Islands.
A forward deployed Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew notified Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders of a disabled migrant vessel, about 57 miles south of Turks and Caicos Islands. District Seven watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark crew to interdict the vessel.
“Hurricane season is an especially dangerous time for unlawful maritime migration,” said Lt. Nicholas Fujimoto, a Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer. “The Coast Guard is proactively monitoring the maritime approaches to the U.S. and international waters of the Caribbean to prevent the tragic loss of life at sea. Makeshift vessels are unseaworthy and incapable of handling the rougher seas caused by unpredictable weather and tropical storms.”
Migrants who are interdicted at sea or apprehended ashore will not be allowed to stay in the United States or a U.S. territory. Anyone who arrives unlawfully may be declared ineligible for legal immigration options and be repatriated to their country of origin or returned to their country of departure, consistent with U.S. law, policies and international treaty obligations.
“Anyone wanting to enter the United States must do so through safe, orderly and lawful pathways; don’t take to the sea,” said Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal, public information officer for Homeland Security Task Force-Southeast. “There are consequences for unlawful entry into the United States. Anyone attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully by sea may be disqualified from lawful parole processes, presumed ineligible for asylum and, if unable to establish a lawful basis to remain, they are subject to removal from the U.S. with a minimum five-year bar on admission, and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful reentry.”
Since October 1, 2023, the Coast Guard has repatriated a total of 507 migrants to Haiti.
