Guess How Many Cubans Have Tried To Enter The U.S. Illegally This Fiscal Year?

U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard personnel left, try to assist a group of Cuban migrants on a makeshift vessel in the Florida Straits.

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Mon. Dec. 5, 2016: Thousands of Cubans have tried to enter the U.S. illegally in the 2016 fiscal year, the highest it has been in a decade, the U.S. Coast Guard said late last week.

The news comes as Cuba continued mourning the death of its former President and Revolutionary, Fidel Castro, who passed away at age 90 on Friday night, Nov. 25th. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft said the number of Cuban interdictions in fiscal 2016 was the highest it has been over the past ten years.

The Coast Guard on Monday, Nov. 28th, said it repatriated 109 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, since Nov. 19th. They are just a fraction of the 7,411 Cubans, who have attempted to illegally migrate via the sea to the U.S. between Oct 2015 and September, 30 2016.

That’s over 3,000 more than the 4,473 who tried to enter in fiscal year 2015.

Since October 1, 2016, The Coast Guard 7th District estimates 776 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate via the sea. These numbers represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic.

“We discourage anyone from taking to the sea and attempting to reach U.S. soil illegally – they are risking their lives with very little chance of success,” said Cmdr. Willie Carmichael, deputy chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. “Immigration policies remain unchanged and we will continue to work with our federal and local partners to stop those who seek to illegally migrate to the U.S. by a maritime route.”