Coast Guard interdicts 12 Cuban migrants, repatriates 11

7th Coast Guard District NewsMIAMI – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne repatriated 11 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Thursday.

Crewmembers from the cruise ship Navigator of the Seas located a rustic vessel in danger of sinking with 12 Cuban migrants aboard south of Key West, Fla., Sunday. The 12 Cuban migrants were brought aboard the cruise ship and further transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island.

“We are grateful for the crew of the Navigator of the Seas who assisted us in this rescue,” said Cmdr. Kevin Lopez, 7th Coast Guard District assistant chief of enforcement. “Their assistance prevented a life-threatening situation from becoming a tragic loss of life.”

One Cuban migrant will be transferred to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for further processing.

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

The Key Biscayne is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Key West, Fla.
The Pea Island is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Key West.

For more information on how to legally immigrate to the United States, call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.


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