U.S. Coastguardsmen reported a makeshift boat about to make landfall near Key West, Florida, last week. Border Patrol agents responded and found 24 migrants from Cuba.
Border Patrol Chief Jason D. Owens posted photos on social media showing a tiny makeshift boat near Florida’s southernmost islands. Border Patrol agents responded after being alerted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
On Monday, USBP agents responded to a U.S. Coast Guard call about a possible human smuggling attempt near Key West, Florida. They found 24 Cuban citizens packed onto a small boat in open waters. These coordinated efforts secure our waterways and save lives from the dangers of… pic.twitter.com/fxJnqPVRSK
— Chief Jason Owens (@USBPChief) January 10, 2025
The agents took the Cuban migrants into custody near Key West.
The Coast Guard also found 37 more Cuban migrants after finding two groups on islands near the Bahamas. The Coast Guard team onboard the Cutter Willliam Flores rescued the migrants and transported them to the Bahamas for processing.
The migrants had been spotted by an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew. Coast Guard officials stated that the aircrew dropped water and food to hold the migrants over until help could arrive.
#DontTakeToTheSea 🚫🌊 The crew of @uscg Cutter William Flores repatriated 20 people & 2 dogs to Cuba, Thurs., following an interdiction of an unlawful maritime migration attempt approx. 36 miles south of Key West. #NoTeArriesgues #OVS
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) January 9, 2025
More: 🔗 https://t.co/rAvvYvHNnt@USEmbCuba pic.twitter.com/qCzuDXOwYL
A few days earlier, the crew of the Flores rescued 20 more migrants and two dogs found in a makeshift boat. The crew found the boat about 36 miles south of Key West.
Bob Price is the Breitbart Texas-Border team’s associate editor and senior news contributor. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday morning talk show. He also serves as president of Blue Wonder Gun Care Products.