MIAMI (CMC) – The United States (US) Coast Guard says that the crew of its cutter Kathleen Moore crew repatriated 63 Haitians migrants to Haiti on Friday following an interdiction off Cuba’s coast.

The US Coast Guard said that a Coast Guard Operations Bahamas, Turks and Caicos law enforcement aircrew notified District Seven watchstanders of a sailing vessel, Sunday, at about 1:00 pm, about 29 miles east of Punta de Maisi, Cuba.

The US Coast Guard said its surface crews responded.

“Coast Guard and partner agency crews will continue to patrol the Florida Straits, Windward and Mona passages,” said Lieutenant Nicholas Fujimoto, Coast Guard District Seven. “Anyone attempting to enter the US illegally, will be repatriated to their country of origin or departure.”

Since October 1, 2022, the US Coast Guard said its crews have interdicted 1,036 Haitian migrants compared to: 7,175 Haitian migrants in Fiscal Year 2022; 1,527 in Fiscal Year 2021; 418 in Fiscal Year 2020; 932 in Fiscal Year 2019; 609 in Fiscal Year 2018; and 419 in Fiscal Year 2017.