Cuban Man Rescued at Sea Claims He Was Fishing, Not Migrating
A 38-year-old Cuban man, Enrique René Reyes Martínez, was found floating off Florida’s coast on a makeshift vessel constructed from wood and foam. He stated that his intention was to fish, not to reach the United States.
Reyes spoke with a Miami Univisión affiliate this weekend from Havana, shortly after his repatriation by U.S. Coast Guard officials. On Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO) released a dramatic photograph of Reyes adrift at sea, cautioning Cuban nationals against the perilous journey across the Straits of Florida, which has led to many fatalities. Those caught attempting to migrate irregularly are often sent back home.
At the time of his discovery, CBP AMO indicated that Reyes was being processed to verify his identity and health status, and to determine the next steps regarding his situation.
“This incident highlights the extreme risks associated with illegal maritime migration. The open waters can be merciless, and these ventures can quickly turn deadly,” warned CBP AMO.
Reyes was located about 16 miles east of Key Biscayne, Florida, on October 12. Reports indicate that he embarked from Cojímar, Cuba, on October 8, spending nearly five days at sea. The distance from Cojímar to Key Biscayne is around 230 miles.
In his conversation with Univisión, Reyes was clear that he did not consider himself a “balsero”—the term for Cuban rafters attempting to flee communism. He stressed that the thought of his seven-year-old daughter kept him sane during his ordeal.
“I never intended to leave the country; this was a very difficult and complicated situation that unfolded,” he asserted. “I owe my survival to God because, really, who can make it on a tiny piece of cork like that?”
In Cuba, fishing is predominantly illegal. The Communist Party tightly controls activities that might allow citizens to access food, like farming and fishing, limiting it mostly to tourism and elite Party members. It remains uncertain whether Reyes will face repercussions from the Cuban government for his actions, whether for fishing or for attempting to leave the country.
“I survived because I wanted to see my family again, especially my daughter. Those thoughts are what kept me going, and I always believed I wouldn’t die out there,” he recounted. “I faced huge waves that felt like 10 feet tall.”
He recounted a scary moment when he spotted a large shark beneath his raft, but he remained calm to avoid tipping over. He credited his composure and his faith in Our Lady of Charity, Cuba’s patron saint, for helping him through the ordeal. According to Cuban belief, she rescued three men lost at sea off Cuba’s coast in 1612, symbolizing the countless others who have risked the journey to the United States under communism.
Reyes expressed gratitude for the “impeccable” treatment from his American rescuers and acknowledged the good Samaritans at sea who alerted authorities. He also promised never to attempt fishing again.
His account contrasts with statements from some family members who claimed he had expressed a desire to leave Cuba in search of a better life for his daughter, urging U.S. officials to allow him to stay. A cousin, Gema Castillo Reyes, noted, “He acted out of necessity, driven by desperation because of his circumstances. No one takes such risks lightly.”
Castillo Reyes suggested that while he told his family he was going fishing, his real intentions were ambiguous. However, the Telemundo report didn’t provide evidence to back her assertions.
For decades, U.S. Coast Guard and immigration officials have been grappling with the large influx of Cubans trying to escape the hardships of communism by sea. The situation in Cuba has worsened significantly this year after Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro was arrested in January. His government had long supported Cuba’s tourism with discounted oil; now, allies like China, Russia, and Iran have not filled the gap, and Maduro’s successor has shifted fuel deals beneficial to the U.S. instead of Cuba.
