PHOTO: On a safety mission

Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton’s crew transferred 67 Haitians and 15 Cubans to Bahamian authorities on April 15 after two Coast Guard cutter crews rescued them in two separate interdictions near Anguilla Cay, Bahamas.

The Coast Guard Cutter Campbell’s crew spotted an overloaded sail freighter on April 11 and brought the Haitians aboard the cutter due to safety of life at sea concerns. The Charles Sexton’s crew spotted an overloaded chug near the Bahamas on April 15 and took all 15 Cuban males aboard for safety of life at sea concerns.

There were 51 Haitian males, 10 Haitian females, and six Haitian minors.

“These types of voyages are extremely dangerous,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Neiman, Coast Guard District Seven public affairs officer. “If our cutters were not patrolling the waters, who knows what would have happened to these people. We will continue to work closely with our partners to be diligent in the mission of safety of life at sea.”

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

Since Oct. 1, 2021, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 3,519 Haitian migrants compared to:

1,527 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2021
418 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2020
932 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2019
609 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2018
419 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2017

Since Oct. 1, 2021, Coast Guard crews interdicted 1,295 Cubans compared to:

838 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2021
49 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2020
13 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2019
59 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2018
1,468 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2017
5,396 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2016