Coast Guard repatriates over 60 Cuban migrants following several missions in the Keys

MIAMI — The Coast Guard has repatriated 64 Cuban migrants caught attempting to enter by means of the Keys.

Here’s what Coast Guard officers mentioned about their operation:

— Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark’s crew repatriated 64 Cubans to Cuba, Sunday, following interdictions off the Florida Keys.

— Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent’s crew alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a country vessel, Thursday, at roughly 9 p.m., about 25 miles south of Key West.

— Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent’s crew alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a country vessel, Thursday, at roughly 11:30 p.m., about 30 miles south of Key West.

— A great Samaritan notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant vessel, Friday, at roughly 8:15 a.m., about 14 miles south of Boot Key.

— A great Samaritan notified Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant vessel, Friday, at roughly 5:30 p.m., about 40 miles south of Key West.

“Migrating illegally in makeshift vessels, particularly with out life jackets or security tools, is extremely harmful,” mentioned Lt. Paul Puddington, Coast Guard District Seven. “Please, on your personal security, do not take to the ocean.”

Since Oct. 1, 2021, Coast Guard crews interdicted 3,067 Cubans in comparison with:

— 5,396 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal 12 months 2016

— 1,468 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal 12 months 2017

— 259 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal 12 months 2018

— 313 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal 12 months 2019

— 49 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal 12 months 2020

— 838 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal 12 months 2021