MIAMI – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo repatriated 41 migrants to Cuba, Friday, 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, Aug. 16., approximately 39 miles south of Key West.
A good Samaritan reported a vessel to Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders, Monday, approximately 8 miles southeast of Port Everglades.
A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations aircrew alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders, Tuesday, of a migrant vessel approximately 58 miles south of Marathon.
"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."
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.
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