119 Cuban migrants repatriated by US Coast Guards

The United States Coast Guard repatriated around 119 Cuban migrants back to the Caribbean island. The officers of the US Coast Guard conducted dozens of search operations in the past three days.  

The US Coast Guard officials, while addressing the media on Tuesday, informed that the migrants were swept up in the South Florida Straits from the Bahamas to the Florida Keys after their boats were discovered drifting near the offshore. 

As per the Cuban state media, this was the largest repatriation done in the time span of the last four years. 

Authorities tweeted that, “#DontTakeToTheSea, Cutters Margaret Norvell & Raymond Evans crews repatriated 119 people to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Monday, following 12 separate interdictions due to safety of life at sea concerns”. 

US Coast Guard officials underscored that in every instance, its officers tried to secure the United States border while also stemming perilous sea voyages from ending in a tragedy. 

Cuban migrants in huge numbers frequently try to enter the United States via sea route. Since the month of October 1, 2021, a total of 501 Cuban migrants have been repatriated by the US Coast Guard officers, excluding the new statistics of 119. 

Meanwhile, the Cuban government has blamed the US administration for this rise in the numbers of Cuban migrants, highlighting that the US governments’ embargo is one such reason which leaves migrants with no choice but to enter nations’ borders illegally while putting their lives at risk.  

The United States has put numerous economic embargo/restrictions on the Caribbean island, which affected majorly on the economy of Cuba, especially during the tough times of the COVID-19 outbreak. Cuba is one of the Caribbean countries that has been highly impacted by the pandemic. 

On the other hand, Cuba is the only country in the world that inoculated toddlers with the homegrown COVID-19 vaccines.