FLORIDA (CMC) – The United States Coast Guard said on Tuesday that it had repatriated 110 Haitian migrants following two recent interdictions off Florida’s coast.

The migrants had been held on two overloaded sailing vessels that were intercepted last Thursday and on December 11.

There were men, women and children on both vessels, the US Coast Guard said.

“This year, we’ve needlessly lost 13 lives to the sea as a result of people choosing to attempt maritime migration in grossly overcrowded and unsafe vessels,” said Captain Robert Kinsey, Coast Guard District Seven.

“Today, our crews are searching for nine more people recklessly taking to the sea. It is heartbreaking to know that families will be sitting down to celebrate the holidays without those lost loved ones. Please encourage those that you care about to choose a safe and legal pathway for migration,” he added.

Since the start of October, the US Coast Guard said crews have interdicted 869 Haitian migrants compared to 7,175 Haitian migrants in the previous fiscal year.