U.S. repatriates nearly 100 Haitians rescued at sea

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A response boat crew member steers toward the Coast Guard Cutter Reliance during a 52-day patrol in the Atlantic Ocean, Jan. 13, 2021. During the patrol, the crew traveled over approximately 8,631 miles, assisted in the transference of more than 12,564 lbs. of narcotics??with an estimated combined street value of $250 million, intercepted 157 undocumented migrants and transferred eight suspected narcotics smugglers from other U.S. Coast Guard cutters operating in the region. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti– The United States Coast Guard has repatriated 88 people, including 26 women, who had been intercepted last Tuesday north of Sagua La Grande in Cuba.

The Coast Guard said that the illegal migrants were aboard an “excessively overloaded sailboat, “also taking on water.

“We ask families in the United States not to encourage their loved ones in Haiti to make this dangerous journey,” said Lt. Connor Ives, law enforcement officer in Coast Guard District 7, as the Haitians were being repatriated on Sunday.

“The risk of loss of life is great on these dangerous boats,” he added.

Figures released by U.S. authorities show that the number of migrants intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard in the past six years totaled 6 965.

Haitians flee the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country for a better life in North America and some CARICOM countries such as the Bahamas.

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