COAST GUARD RESCUES NEARLY 400 HAITIANS FROM OVERLOADED SAIL FREIGHTER

A screenshot from a U.S. Coast Guard video shows just a portion of the 396 Haitian men, women and children crowded onto an overloaded sail freighter. The majority of the migrants were transferred to Bahamian authorities. U.S. COAST GUARD/Contributed

Coast Guard Cutter Legare’s crew transferred 375 Haitians and two Cubans to Bahamian authorities on Jan. 24 following rescues in Bahamian waters.

Coast Guard Cutter Legare’s crew rescued a person in the water on Jan. 21, about 60 miles south of Andros Island, Bahamas. The person reported they fell off their sailing vessel, which was spotted a few miles in front of the cutter. 

Legare’s crew rescued 396 men, women, and children from the vessel.

Additionally, Coast Guard Cutter Angela McShan’s crew rescued two Cubans on Anguilla Cay, Bahamas, on Jan. 22, after an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry law enforcement aircrew spotted them waving from the island. 

“Trying to land in the U.S. by sea can make people ineligible for parole opportunities, and you will be repatriated to your country of origin or departure,” said Lt. Matt Miller, Coast Guard District Seven. “Coast Guard and partner agency air and sea crews patrol all day, every day to ensure people return to their families alive.”

Since Oct. 1, 2022, the start of fiscal 2023, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 1,766 Haitian migrants compared to:

  • 7,175 Haitian migrants in fiscal 2022
  • 1,527 Haitian migrants in fiscal 2021
  • 418 Haitian migrants in fiscal 2020
  • 932 Haitian migrants in fiscal 2019
  • 609 Haitian migrants in fiscal 2018
  • 419 Haitian migrants in fiscal 2017

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.