A total of 14 Cuban rafters were arrested by United States Border Patrol (USBP) officials this Friday upon arrival in the Florida Keys.
Walter N. Slosar, head of the USBP in the Miami sector, reported on his Twitter account that the group landed at Long Key State Park in Monroe County.
“They were taken into border police custody this morning after ending up in a rustic ship,” he said.
The split image shows a small wooden boat with someone writing the word FREEDOM on it.
Just two days ago, the USBP arrested eight Cuban rafters after arriving at Fort Zachary Taylor State Parkin Key West.
The migrants sailed in a small boat made out of wood, polyfoam and what looked like galvanized steel tiles, and an adapted car engine.
Last Sunday, US authorities arrested seven Cuban immigrants after a home-made ship landed in the Marquesas Islands, 20 miles west of Key West.
The group was stranded on the islands and was rescued by the Coast Guard.
Since the beginning of the current fiscal year on October 1, 2021, more than 3,470 Cuban raftsmen have been intercepted at sea attempting to reach the Florida coast.
This is the highest number since 2016, the year that registered a record 5,396 Cuban migrants when the dry foot/wet foot policy was still in place.
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