MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Ocracoke repatriated 24 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, earlier this week.
Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., watchstanders received notification that the cruise ship Oasis of the Seas was on scene with a blue-foam raft with 18 people aboard south of Key West, Fla., June 29, 2012. Sector Key West watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Nantucket whose crew on June 29 safely embarked the 18 migrants and later transferred them to the cutter Ocracoke for repatriation.
Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., watchstanders received notification that a raft with six people paddling was spotted south of Key West, Fla., June 30, 2012. The Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne was diverted and safely embarked the six migrants. The migrants were transferred to the cutter Ocracoke for repatriation on Satuday.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants are provided with food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
The cutter Ocracoke is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The cutter Nantucket is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Key West.
The cutter Key Biscayne 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.
The cutter Nantucket, Key Biscayne and other Island-class patrol boats are being replaced by 58 new, Sentinel-class fast response cutters. The FRC will be capable of speeds in excess of 28 knots and operating in seas up to 18-feet. The FRC deliver tremendous lifesaving, law enforcement and homeland security capabilities in the same package.
