U.S. Repatriates Some 120 Migrants to Cuba, Haiti

Posted July 5th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
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The U.S. Coast Guard has repatriated more than 120 Cuban and Haitian migrants picked up at sea.

The Coast Guard says it intercepted 82 Haitians aboard a sailing vessel northwest of Great Inagua, Bahamas, on Friday and returned them on Monday to Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

It says it also returned 15 Cubans to Bahia de Cabanas, Cuba, on Monday, after they were picked up in three separate incidents last week. That followed the return of 25 Cuban migrants on Sunday after a Coast Guard helicopter spotted their boat south of Key West.

The United States follows a so-called “wet foot/dry foot” policy with Cuban migrants. Those intercepted at sea are typically repatriated, while those reaching U.S. soil are usually allowed to remain and eventually apply for U.S. residency.

The policy is for Cuban migrants only. Some human rights advocates argue that the U.S. should afford Haitian migrants the same privilege.