The United States Coast Guard says the crew from the Cutter Resolute crew repatriated 110 Haitian migrants on Tuesday after stopping a voyage about 50 miles north of Cap-Haitien, Haiti.
“A forward-deployed Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew spotted a 40-foot vessel Friday overloaded with people,” the US Coast Guard said. “Resolute’s crew diverted and brought the people aboard out of an abundance of caution for the safety of life at sea.”
“I could not be prouder of the crew for safely interdicting and deterring migrant ventures through coordinated efforts to enforce US and partner nation treaties and laws,” said Justin Vanden Heuvel, commander, Coast Guard Cutter Resolute.
“Resolute’s crew was exceptional in ensuring the safety of life at sea, as well as providing around-the-clock care for 110 guests and creating an atmosphere of compassion and dignity prior to repatriation,” he added.
Lt. Edwin Valentin, Coast Guard liaison officer, Haiti, said “members of the US Embassy Port au Prince continue to issue anti-migration messaging and to work with host nation government to develop and publish deterrence messaging on illicit maritime migration.
“We would like to thank Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, the Haitian Coast Guard, International Organization for Migration, National Office of Migration, and L’Institut du Bien-Etre Social et de Recherches for a safe, and well-coordinated repatriation effort,” he said.
The US Coast Guard said it has interdicted about 150 Haitian migrants in fiscal year 2021, which began October 1, 2020, compared to 418 Haitian migrants in fiscal year 2020.
These numbers represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
CMC
