Coast Guard Sends 45 Migrants Back to Cuba After Boats Spotted Near Florida Keys; Coast Guard returns 45 migrants to Cuba off Florida Keys. and related stories

U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard sends 45 migrants back to Cuba after boats spotted near Florida Keys:

The Coast Guard intercepted four Cuban migrant vessels in recent days

American officials sent dozens of migrants back to Cuba Sunday after the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted four different vessels last week.

Each of the boats were in waters near the Florida Keys and reported to officials by onlookers.

"The possibility of being stopped by Coast Guard crews while illegally migrating through the Caribbean Sea is high," Lt. Cmdr. Mark Cobb of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District said in a statement. "No one should risk their lives on unsafe rustic vessels in unpredictable seas."

The first boat was found Wednesday night 12 miles off the coast of Boot Key, the Coast Guard said. The rest were reported Friday, with one boat spotted 17 miles off of Long Key at approximately 11:45 a.m. and two off the coast of Big Pine Key at around noon, one 17 miles away and one 22 miles away. --->READ MORE HERE

Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard District 7

Coast Guard returns 45 migrants to Cuba off Florida Keys:

The Coast Guard sent 45 migrants back to Cuba on Sunday after interdicting them last week.

Authorities spotted the migrants on four different boats off Florida's coast last week amid one of the largest known annual exoduses of Cuban "balseros" since 2016, the Miami Herald reported.

"The possibility of being stopped by Coast Guard crews while illegally migrating through the Caribbean Sea is high," said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Cobb of the Coast Guard 7th District. "No one should risk their lives on unsafe rustic vessels in unpredictable seas."

The first interdiction took place on Wednesday when a civilian identified a vessel about 12 miles south of Boot Key. On Friday, witnesses spotted three more boats from various locations near Long Key and Big Pine Key.

Once in custody, the Coast Guard provides migrants with medical support, food, and water, according to the Coast Guard 7th District, which announced the interdiction. --->READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to related stories:

45 Cuban migrants repatriated after being stopped off Florida Keys; 5 migrants found stranded near Marathon

Coast Guard repatriates 52 people to Cuba

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