The U.S Coast Guard found three boats full of Cuban refugees off Florida waters last week and returned all 22 Cubans to Communist Cuba, according to a U.S. Coast Guard press release.  

While on a routine patrol, the Coast Guard Cutter Ibis crew notified Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders at 9:05 a.m., Monday, of a metal vessel with eight people aboard a mile east of Dania Beach. They were brought aboard Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo.

A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations airplane crew notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders at 9:20 a.m., Tuesday, of a white foam vessel with five people aboard 55 miles southwest of Marathon. They were brought aboard the Mayo.

A good Samaritan notified Sector Key West watchstanders at 3 p.m., Wednesday, of a man-made sailing raft with nine people aboard approximately nine miles south of Big Pine Key. They were brought aboard the Mayo.

“Navigating the Florida Straits in unseaworthy vessels is extremely dangerous,” said Sean Connett, a command duty officer, District 7 Command Center. “The Coast Guard and our partner agencies continue to stop these voyages; you will be interdicted and should you expect to be repatriated to your country of origin.”  

“Allow me to be clear: if you take to the Sea, you will not come to the United States,” Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said July 13. Vermont Daily Chronicle has not yet determined whether the Trump administration also followed this policy. In January 2017, after Trump won the election but before he was sworn into office, the Obama administration eliminated a ruling giving more hope for Cubans refugees trying to reach America by boat.

Since Oct, 1, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 805 Cubans compared to: 

• 5,396 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2016
• 1,468 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2017
• 259 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2018
• 313 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2019
• 49 Cuban Migrants in Fiscal Year 2020

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19.