The United States Coast Guard informs us that the crew of the USCGC Vigilant (WMEC-617) repatriated Friday, May 27, 2022, 146 illegal Haitian migrants to Cap-Haitien, after their interception approximately 45 miles southeast of Islamorada in the "Florida Keys" after being spotted by a US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crew.

"Once on scene, the crews provided the people with life jackets due to safety concerns associated with the vessel being grossly overloaded. Attempting to migrate illegally by sea to the United States from Haiti is incredibly dangerous," said Lieutenant Paul Puddington, a Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer adding "The Coast Guard and our partners will continue to vigilantly patrol, detect, intercept and deter unsafe voyages."

In addition, the day before, the United States Coast Guard also intercepted and repatriated to the Dominican Republic during two separate operations 8 Dominican nationals, 15 Haitians and 12 illegal Uzbek nationals following the interception of two small boats in the passage of Mona near Porto Rico.

PI/ iciHaiti