MIAMI, United States (CMC) — The United States Coast Guard has reported a surge in Cuban migrants repatriated to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country.

On Saturday the US Coast Guard said the crews of its cutters Robert Yered and Pablo Valents repatriated 203 Cubans to Cuba following 14 interdictions off Florida’s coast.

“In 2016, the ‘Wet Foot, Dry Foot’ policy was repealed,” said Lieutenant Travis Poulos, US Coast Guard District Seven.

“Those rescued or stopped at sea will be brought back to their country of origin, or the country they departed,” he added.

In 2016 the US Administration, under former President Barack Obama, terminated the “wet foot, dry foot policy” which permitted migrants fleeing Cuba without a visa to automatically stay in the United States once they set foot on US shores.

At the time, the Administration said the change was necessary to “normalise” relations with Havana that began when diplomatic relations were restored in 2014.

Last Friday the US Coast Guard said the crew of the cutter Robert Yered’s crew repatriated 106 Cuban migrants and four dogs to Cuba following 12 interdictions off Florida’s coast.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, the US Coast Guard said the crew of the cutter Pablo Valent repatriated 107 Cubans to Cuba following nine interdictions off Florida’s coast.

“The Coast Guard and our partners patrol the Florida Straits, Windward and Mona Passages to stop illegal migration into the United States from the sea,” said Lieutenant Commander Mark Cobb, US Coast Guard District Seven.

“Those rescued or stopped will be brought back to their country of origin, or the country they departed,” he added.

Since October 1, 2021 the US Coast Guard said its crews interdicted 4,440 Cuban migrants compared to 5,396 in fiscal year 2016, 1,468 in fiscal year 2017, 259 in 2018, 313 in 2019, 49 in 2020 and 838 in 2021.