The Coast Guard and its Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast federal, state, local, and international partners will continue to patrol by land, air and sea to rescue and repatriate anyone attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully by sea.

The crews of Coast Guard Cutter Raymond Evans and Cutter Richard Etheridge transferred 109 people to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Sunday, following an interdiction near Anguilla Cay, Bahamas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) aircrews notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders of a migrant venture near Anguilla Cay and crews diverted to interdict them.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Thetis repatriated 196 people to Haiti, Monday, following two migrant voyage interdictions on June 5 and June 6. A CBP-AMO aircrew notified Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders, Wednesday, of a migrant venture north of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Another CBP-AMO aircrew notified Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders, Thursday, of a migrant venture north of Île de la Tortue, Haiti. Crews diverted to interdict both vessels.

“Irregular maritime migration is unlawful and extremely dangerous. The OVS maritime border security mission is often equal parts law enforcement and humanitarian response, especially as we enter hurricane season and marine weather becomes more severe and unpredictable,” said Lt. Nick Fujimoto, Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer. “The Coast Guard urges any potential migrants considering the journey: don’t take to the sea and risk your life just to be sent back. Use the safe, orderly and lawful pathways available like the CHNV process.”

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, migrants are processed to determine their identity and are provided food, water, shelter, and basic medical attention before repatriation to their country of origin or return to the country from which they departed.

For more information about Operation Vigilant Sentry including imagery, visit these links:

• HSTF-SE performs OVS migrant interdiction mission in the Caribbean Basin
• HSTF-SE OVS maritime migration interdiction and repatriation b-roll video
• HSTF-SE OVS maritime migration detection and interdiction b-roll video

On June 5, the Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. immigration enforcement and asylum procedures across the southern border are more strict. Last Tuesday, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General jointly issued an interim final rule that generally restricts asylum eligibility for those who irregularly enter across the southern border – including the southwest land border and the southern coastal borders. These new measures are designed to increase the processing and consequences for those who cross our borders irregularly or who attempt to present themselves at Ports of Entry without authorization, allowing DHS to more quickly remove individuals who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States.

For more information, follow these links to Department of Homeland Security fact sheets:

• Securing the Border | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
• DHS Continues to Strengthen Border Security, Reduce Irregular Migration, and Mobilize International Partnerships
• Presidential Proclamation to Suspend and Limit Entry and Joint DHS-DOJ Interim Final Rule to Restrict Asylum During High Encounters at the Southern Border
• CBP One Facilitated Over 170,000 Appointments in Six Months, and Continues to be a Safe, Orderly, and Humane Tool for Border Management
• Data From First Six Months of Parole Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans Shows That Lawful Pathways Work

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