Cuban migration on the rise

Scuttlebutt regularly receives migration updates from the U.S. Coast Guard, with 2022 proving to be an active year from Cuba. These reports also highlight the importance of boaters to this work:

(July 10, 2022) – Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark’s crew repatriated 64 Cubans to Cuba today following interdictions off the Florida Keys.

• Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent’s crew alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a rustic vessel on July 7 at approximately 9:00 pm, about 25 miles south of Key West.

• Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent’s crew alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a rustic vessel on July 7 at approximately 11:30 pm, about 30 miles south of Key West.

• A good Samaritan notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant vessel on July 8 at approximately 8:15 am, about 14 miles south of Boot Key.

• A good Samaritan notified Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant vessel on July 8 at approximately 5:30 pm, about 40 miles south of Key West.

“Migrating illegally in makeshift vessels, especially without life jackets or safety equipment, is incredibly dangerous,” said Lt. Paul Puddington, Coast Guard District Seven. “Please, for your own safety, don’t take to the sea.”

In Fiscal Year 2022, Coast Guard crews interdicted 3,067 Cubans compared to:

2016: 5,396 Cuban Migrants
2017: 1,468 Cuban Migrants
2018: 259 Cuban Migrants
2019: 313 Cuban Migrants
2020: 49 Cuban Migrants
2021: 838 Cuban Migrants

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. The Coast Guard Fiscal Year is from October 1 to September 30.