Coast Guard intercepts boat with 191 Haitians near the Bahamas

The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a vessel on Tuesday with 191 Haitian migrants trying to make their way to Florida.

While on routine patrol around the Bahamas, the Coast Guard found a sailing vessel overloaded with Haitian migrants.

The passengers aboard the ship were taken aboard two Coast Guard vessels, where they were given food, water, and medical attention, reported Reuters.

The Haitians will be returned to the Bahamas and eventually be repatriated, said Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Jose Hernandez.

The number of Haitians taking to the sea to reach the United States has increased in recent years. Since October, U.S. authorities have intercepted more than 800 Haitians trying to make the dangerous trip.

The surge in sea crossings comes after the Biden administration adopted a policy in September of last year that repatriates all Haitians captured crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The Coast Guard maintains a persistent presence patrolling the waters around Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas to help prevent loss of life on the high seas,” said Lt. David Steele, Coast Guard liaison officer, U.S. Embassy Haiti. “These grossly overloaded vessels operate without proper safety equipment and are not built for these hazardous voyages.”