On December 19, 2024, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark successfully repatriated 43 individuals to Cuba. This commendable effort came after the crew carried out two interdictions in the Florida Straits. The crew’s dedication and swift action ensured the safe return of these individuals to their home country.
On December 11, a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 aircrew reported a migrant vessel to Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders. The vessel was located approximately 50 miles south of Marathon.
Sector Key West watchstanders were alerted by a concerned citizen who reported a makeshift vessel approximately 47 miles southwest of Islamorada. The vessel had capsized, leaving five individuals stranded in the water. Thankfully, a good Samaritan was able to rescue them.
“The Coast Guard, along with our state and local partners, is actively patrolling during this holiday season to identify and stop any illegal maritime migration,” stated Lt. Thomas Pease, an enforcement officer from the Seventh District of the Coast Guard. He further emphasized that despite the warm waters in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, where temperatures range from the 70s to 80s, there is still a potential risk of hypothermia due to extended exposure.”
If someone tries to illegally migrate by sea, they will be rescued and sent back to their home country or the place they departed from.
Once migrants are on board a Coast Guard cutter, they go through a processing procedure to establish their identity. During this time, they are given essential provisions such as food, water, and shelter, as well as basic medical care. Afterward, they are either repatriated to their country of origin or returned to the country they departed from.
The Coast Guard, in collaboration with its partners in the Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast, consistently deploys air, land, and sea assets in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage, and the Caribbean Sea to support Operation Vigilant Sentry.
The HSTF-SE employs a comprehensive, layered strategy to safeguard the lives of individuals at sea and deter unauthorized maritime entry into the United States and its territories.
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