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The Coast Guard intercepted on Sunday a group of 104 Haitians aboard a crude and overcrowded vessel sailing off the coast of South Florida, the institution reported Monday.
The Coast Guard, which initially reported intercepting about 80 Haitians, said Monday that the 104 migrants were detained about 18 miles (29 km) east of Biscayne Bay, off the coast of the city of Miami.
The Haitians, all without medical problems when intercepted, were spotted by a “good Samaritan” who alerted the authorities, according to the Coast Guard.
This operation comes after the Coast Guard last Friday handed over to Bahamian authorities 12 Haitians, discovered in a boat about 3 miles (5 km) east of Juno Beach, in southeast Florida.
Since October 1, 2020, or since the beginning of the current fiscal year, the United States has intercepted nearly 400 Haitians attempting to enter the country, according to Coast Guard accounting, to which must be added the 104 this weekend.
During fiscal year 2020, the total number of Haitians intercepted in U.S. waters was 418, nearly half of the 932 in fiscal year 2019 and the 609 in fiscal 2018.
