Overloaded boat packed with 132 Haitian migrants intercepted off US coast, sent back home

The US Coast Guard cut off an “overloaded” boat packed with 132 Haitian migrants about 50 miles off the Florida coastline — and shipped them back home on Monday, officials said.The Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba intercepted the 30-foot sailboat last week between Cuba and Cay Sal Bank and off the shore of Marathon, Florida, returning them to the island nation on Monday.“The Coast Guard will continue to prioritize strengthening our domestic integrity and disrupting attempts to enter the United States illegally by sea,” said Lt.Zane Carter, Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer, said in a press release from the maritime enforcement agency.“We are steadfast in our mission to safeguard America by securing our maritime borders.” Once on the Coast Guard cutter, the Haitians were given food and water, medical attention and prepared for repatriation back to their native country, the release said.

Since Oct.1, 313 Haitian migrants have been returned home after trying to reach the US.The Coast Guard has stepped up efforts to intercept and transport migrants since President Donald Trump took office last month with a promise to deport illegal immigrants in the US.

Also on Monday, the federal agency conducted its latest “Alien Expulsion Flight Operation,” which has been flying migrants seized throughout the country to Texas and California near the Mexican border.From there federal immigration agents send the migrants back to their native lands.“Through these ongoing operations the Coast Guard is detecting, deterring and interdicting aliens, drug smugglers and individuals intent on terrorism or other hostile activity before they reach the border,” authorities said in a separate release issued on Tuesday.“The Coast Guard’s current role is to assist with the national transport of aliens to designated locations in Texas and California, where the Department of Defense will transport the aliens internationally.”...