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Press Release | March 2, 2023

Coast Guard repatriates 206 people to Haiti

Follow link for Haitian interdiction process video, here

All Coast Guard Southeast imagery can be found on Dvids, here.  

All Coast Guard migration imagery can be found on Dvids, here

MIAMI — Coast Guard Cutter Venturous' crew repatriated 206 Haitians to Haiti, Thursday, following two interdictions off Florida's coast and in international waters. 

A Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations boat crew alerted Sector Miami watchstanders of a suspicious vessel, Feb. 22, at approximately 10 p.m., in the vicinity of St. Lucie Inlet. 

There were 74 Haitian men, women, and children, three Bahamians, and one Dominician aboard.

Two people were brought to shore for further questioning with Homeland Security Investigations and two Bahamians were repatriated to The Bahamas. 

Coast Guard Cutters James and Venturous' crews stopped an unsafe and overloaded sailing vessel, Tuesday, at approximately 12:30 a.m., 35 miles northeast of Corralillo, Cuba, in international waters. 

There were 132 Haitian men, women, and children aboard. 

The people were reported to be in good condition. 

"Coast Guard and partner agency crews are doing their very best to stop people from illegally entering the U.S. and to discourage people from risking their lives by taking to the sea," said Lt. Cameron Box, Coast Guard District Seven. “Illegally migrating to the U.S. by sea may disqualify you from the new parole programs announced earlier this year."

Since Oct. 1, 2022, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 3,367 Haitian migrants compared to: 

  • 7,175 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2022 
  • 1,527 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2021 
  • 418 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2020 
  • 932 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2019 
  • 609 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2018 
  • 419 Haitian Migrants in Fiscal Year 2017 

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. 

For more information about newly announced immigration programs: 

Fact Sheet: Biden/Harris Administration announces new border enforcement actions 

Secretary Mayorkas Delivers Remarks on DHS's Continued Preparation for the End of Title 42 and Announcement of New Border Enforcement Measures and Additional Safe and Orderly Processes 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans 

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