CBP, USCG Operation Rescues 23 Migrants from Sinking Vessel
Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents partnered with United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel this week to extricate 23 people from a boat dangerously close to sinking south of Marathon, Florida.
As the vessel sank, migrants grabbed at debris they could find, clinging to it, which prompted the agents on the scene to issue life jackets. After securing the safety of all the boat's occupants, AMO agents and USCG personnel responded swiftly, lifting them aboard the 41-foot Secure Around Flotation Equipped (SAFE) Boat.
The USCG crew than transferred all 23 individuals hailing from Cuba to partners for further processing after the rescue.
“Safety of life at sea for migrants attempting to enter the United States is a priority for AMO. Our crews provide humanitarian aid to people who have been traveling for days on unforgiving seas in unsafe vessels. They are often in need of medical attention, flotation devices, food, and water,” said Tony Arevalo, Director of AMO’s Miami Air and Marine Branch.
Individuals fleeing poverty and rising gang violence have become increasingly likely to travel aboard overcrowded and derelict boats. Earlier this week, 17 migrants drowned off the coast of the Bahamas. AMO and USCG crews were able to rescue 25 individuals as the vessel capsized.
CBP is expanding in response to a growing need in the Caribbean with a new AMO facility in Puerto Rico. The permanent facility will feature modern communications and security features, operating and administrative spaces, and training areas. For the operation of the SAFE Boat, the lot will feature a pier, boat ramp, and boat maintenance bay. A completion date of 2024 is expected for the facility.
“Our agents are the best at what they do,” said AMO Director Augusto Reyes. “This new facility will make them even better. Having the most modernized technology and equipment helps us to execute our mission and protect the American people more effectively.”