The United States Coast Guard says the crews of its Cutter Winslow recently repatriated 27 Cuban migrantsfollowing an interdiction in the Yucatán Channel.
The US Coast Guard said the crew reported that the vessel was taking on water, had no fuel or water aboard, and was in danger of sinking.’
The crew then ’embarked’ the Cuban migrants and transferred them aboard the cutter for processing and disposition.
The migrants were later transferred to Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser for repatriation.
‘Attempting to migrate illegally by sea aboard overloaded and unseaworthy vessels is extremely dangerous and places lives at unnecessary risk,’ said Lieutenant Commander Luis Garcia, US Coast Guard liaison officer to Cuba.
‘The Coast Guard and our federal, state and local partners maintain a constant presence throughout the maritime approaches to the United States to detect, deter and prevent unlawful maritime migration,’ he added.
The US Coast Guard said interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by its members ‘under the authority and control’ of the Coast Guard Southeast District, headquartered in Miami.