Coast Guard sends dozens back to Cuba in early September

Coast Guard sends dozens back to Cuba in early September
Fri, 2012-09-14 08:26 AM
By: Mark Rockwell

In separate actions during the first days of September, Coast Guard
cutters picked up 52 Cuban migrants in the waters off of the Bahamas and
Key West and returned them to Cuba.

On Sept. 2, Coast Guard 7th District command center watchstanders were
notified of a disabled 35-foot boat west of the Bahamas with an unknown
amount of suspected migrants aboard. The Coast Guard Cutter Oak arrived
on scene and 20 Cuban migrants were transferred aboard, said the Coast
Guard. The 20 migrants were later transferred to the cutter Nantucket
and repatriated on Sept. 7.

Coast Guard 7th District command center watchstanders received
notification of a 15-foot boat that departed Cuba with 12 suspected
migrants on Sept. 3. Cutter Nantucket intercepted the vessel southwest
of Key West and took on 12 Cuban migrants, said the Coast Guard. The
cutter Nantucket repatriated nine of the 12 migrants on Sept. 7 and the
Pea Island repatriated the remaining three on Sept. 8, said the Coast Guard.

In another September incident, Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders
received notification of a disabled vessel south of Key West with an
unknown number of suspected migrants aboard. The cutter Oak arrived on
scene and embarked 21 Cuban migrants thast were transferred to the
cutter Pea Island and repatriated on Sept. 8.

The Coast Guard said all of the migrants got food, water, shelter and
basic medical attention once aboard the cutters.

Under current U.S. policy, Cubans caught in the waters between the U.S.
and Cuba have to be sent back to Cuba, however, Cuban migrants that make
it onto U.S. shores get a chance to remain in the country and set on a
path to possible citizenship. The rule has been called the "wet foot,
dry foot policy"

"The U.S. Coast Guard and its partners maintain a robust patrol presence
throughout the Caribbean Sea to deter illicit maritime activity," said
Capt. Brendan McPherson, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th
District. "Our main concern is always for the safety of these migrants
who are putting their lives at extreme risk in unseaworthy vessels and
to protect our nation's borders by deterring dangerous and illegal
activity."


http://www.gsnmagazine.com/article/27278/coast_guard_sends_dozens_back_cuba_early_september