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Immigration

33 Cuban migrants land in Key West, 80 repatriated 

Since October 1, the U.S. Coast Guard has responded to 24 migrant landings off the coast of Florida and has encountered over 300 migrants

October 17, 2022 7:19pm

Updated: October 17, 2022 7:20pm

U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered 33 Cuban migrants that landed in the Florida Keys on a makeshift raft on Saturday. 

Officials intercepted the Cuban migrants at Smathers Beach in Key West. 

Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard announced on Sunday that at least 80 Cuban migrants were repatriated after being intercepted after landing off the coast of Florida. 

The recent encounter with the Cuban migrants comes days after U.S. authorities intercepted 43 Cuban migrants that had arrived at Key Biscayne in three separate migrant landings. 

The migrants arrived in “rustic or homemade style” vessels, according to a tweet by Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar. 

Since October 1, the U.S. Coast Guard has responded to 24 migrant landings off the coast of Florida and has encountered over 300 migrants, agent Slosar added. 

During Fiscal Year 2022, which runs from October 1 2021 to September 30, 2022, around 6,182 migrants were encountered in the Florida Keys.