MIAMI — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter William Flores repatriated 20 Cubans and two dogs to Cuba, Thursday, following an interdiction of an unlawful maritime migration attempt in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry.
A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 aircrew notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant vessel, Dec. 30, approximately 36 miles south of Key West.
“Attempting to illegally migrate through the Florida Straits, Windward and Mona Passages is not only illegal, but extremely dangerous,” said Lt. Nicholas Fujimoto, a Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer. “No one should risk their lives on unsafe rustic vessels in unpredictable 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 continued 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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