The United States Coast Guard (USCG) transferred 13 Cuban migrants to Bahamian authorities this Friday, after they were rescued from Elbow Cay, where they had been stranded since Wednesday.
The Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) requested the assistance of the USCG to carry out the successful rescue operation. The rescued Cubans were sent to Bahamian territory, following the usual protocol for those detained in Bahamian territorial waters.
This incident adds to a series of recent USCG operations intercepting Cuban migrants attempting to reach the United States by sea. Last Monday, the Coast Guard returned two rafters to Cuba who were intercepted the previous week while trying to reach the Florida Keys.
These two migrants were detected by an Air and Marine Operations (AMO) crew from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) south of Marathon on August 20. The constant arrival of Cuban migrants to U.S. shores indicates that the migratory flow from the island shows no signs of stopping.
Amid the growing economic crisis in Cuba, more citizens are risking their lives on dangerous sea journeys in search of better opportunities. Recently, other groups of migrants have been rescued in similar situations.
Last Monday, CBP and USCG agents rescued five Cuban migrants who had been drifting for seven days southeast of Port Everglades. This group, showing severe symptoms of dehydration and exhaustion, was part of the 41 migrants repatriated to Cuba last week.
In the midst of this situation, the July shipwreck of a boat carrying 11 people from Pinar del Río caused a stir. Only two men survived, while the body of a 20-year-old woman, Ana Elis Gazquez Vargas, from Consolación del Sur, was recovered. Cuban authorities have not commented on this case.
In July, a total of 15,645 Cubans entered the United States, according to the latest report from Customs and Border Protection, with 4,918 of them arriving in Florida, mostly by sea.
Questions and Answers About USCG's Role and Cuban Migrants
Given the ongoing migration crisis from Cuba, here are some relevant questions and answers to provide more insight into the situation and the role of the United States Coast Guard.
Why did the US Coast Guard transfer the Cuban migrants to the Bahamas?
The US Coast Guard transferred the migrants to Bahamian authorities following standard protocols for those detained in Bahamian territorial waters. This ensures legal and safe handling of the migrants.
What prompted the rescue operation at Elbow Cay?
The Royal Bahamas Defense Force requested assistance from the US Coast Guard to rescue the stranded migrants, prompting the successful operation.
What is causing the increase in Cuban migrants attempting to reach the United States?
The growing economic crisis in Cuba is driving more citizens to risk dangerous sea journeys in search of better opportunities in the United States.