The U.S. Coast Guard recently Intercepted Reports on Monday said several ships bound for the United States were carrying more than 300 would-be illegal immigrants. press release.
The Coast Guard reported that on Sunday and Monday it deported 109 people to the Bahamas and 196 to Haiti who were attempting to enter the United States illegally.
“Don’t risk your life going out to sea only to be sent back.”
The seizure was carried out as part of “Operation Vigilance and Surveillance” after several vessels were spotted off the US coast last week.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the groups were processed, provided with food, water, shelter and medical care, and then returned to their countries of origin.
“Crews from the Coast Guard vessels Raymond Evans and Richard Etheridge transferred 109 individuals to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force on Sunday following an interdiction near Anguilla, Bahamas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Maritime Operations (CBP-AMO) crews notified Coast Guard Key West Sector observers of migrant activity near Anguilla and the crews headed out to interdict,” a Coast Guard press release stated.
“The crew of the Coast Guard patrol vessel Thetis returned 196 individuals to Haiti on Monday following two interdictions of migrant voyages on June 5 and 6. A CBP-AMO crew notified Coast Guard District 7 observers on Wednesday that the migrants were traveling north of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Another CBP-AMO crew notified Coast Guard District 7 observers on Thursday that the migrants were traveling north of Île de la Tortue, Haiti. The crews then redirected the interdiction of both vessels,” the press release continued.
Lt. Nick Fujimoto, executive officer of the Coast Guard’s 7th District, said the recent relocation attempts were “illegal and extremely dangerous.”
“OVS maritime border control missions are often equal parts law enforcement and humanitarian response, especially as we enter hurricane season and weather at sea becomes even more severe and unpredictable,” Fujimoto added. “The Coast Guard urges potential migrants considering this journey not to risk their lives by setting sail at sea only to be turned away.”
Fujimoto urged individuals to “use the safe, orderly and lawful means available to them.”
Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) deployed additional state agents to address a possible increase in illegal maritime immigration attempts.
“The State of Florida has dedicated significant resources for quite some time to combating illegal boat entry into Florida from countries like Haiti,” Governor DeSantis said in March. “No other state has done more to supplement the enforcement efforts of the (under-resourced) U.S. Coast Guard. Illegal immigrants cannot be allowed to come to Florida.”
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