1400 Migrants Captured at Sea, Along Florida Coast over New Year’s Weekend

by BOB PRICE 5 Jan 2023

Homeland Security Task Force-Southeast law enforcement partners interdicted multiple sea-based human smuggling incidents leading to the capture of more than nearly 1,400 migrants over the New Year’s Weekend. The migrant arrests took place at sea and along the coast in the Florida Keys.

Law enforcement partners assigned to the Homeland Security Task Force — Southeast spent the New Year’s weekend apprehending nearly 1,400 migrants at sea and along the islands and coastal areas of the Florida Keys, according to a tweet from the agency. Many of these smuggling interdictions took place on heavily overloaded boats.



Homeland Security Task Force - Southeast (HSTF-SE)
·
Jan 4, 2023

@HSTF_Southeast·
Follow

Replying to @HSTF_SoutheastThe primary objectives of HSTF-SE are to prevent tragic loss of life at sea & to deter & dissuade maritime migration using a measured response by @DHSgov forces, reinforced by other required federal, state & local assets & capabilities based on trends & patterns and the OVS plan.



Homeland Security Task Force - Southeast (HSTF-SE)
@HSTF_Southeast
·
Follow

Between Fri. Dec. 30, 2022 to Mon. Jan. 1, 2023, HSTF-SE interdicted/encountered:
• 606 migrants at sea;
• 59 migrants on Marquesas;
• 364 migrants on @DryTortugasNPS;
• 326 migrants in Florida Keys;
• 27 migrants on Isla Monito b/t Dom. Rep. & Puerto Rico;
(continued below)

7:58 PM · Jan 4, 2023

“Illegal maritime voyages in the Caribbean are always dangerous and very often deadly,” Rear Admiral Brendan C. McPherson, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District and Director, HSTF-SE said in a written statement. “Smugglers routinely exploit vulnerable migrants for profit while putting their lives at risk aboard overloaded and un-seaworthy vessels. These dangerous voyages must not be attempted. Safe, legal, and orderly migration saves lives.”

The tweet above reports 364 migrants apprehended in a single incident at the Dry Tortugas National Park. By the conclusion of the incident, the count rose to 427 migrants removed from the island by U.S. Coast Guardsmen.



Homeland Security Task Force - Southeast (HSTF-SE)
@HSTF_Southeast
·
Follow

#BreakingNews@USCGSoutheast reports that all remaining migrants on @DryTortugasNPS, an #updated total of 337 migrants (not including the 90 migrants previously removed by @USCG), were removed from the island & are onboard a @USCG cutter for transfer to Key West, tomorrow.











10:30 PM · Jan 4, 2023

U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar tweeted a video showing an overloaded sailing vessel with more than 130 migrants onboard off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. Smugglers packed many of the migrants below deck placing them in life-threatening conditions.



Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar
@USBPChiefMIP
·
Follow

#Update: Yesterday, #BorderPatrol agents with support from @HSTF_Southeast encountered over 130 #Haitian migrants in Key Largo #Florida. The migrants arrived on an overloaded sailing vessel and were packed in the lower deck. These voyages are dangerous and potentially deadly.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1610697836307308545


Watch on Twitter
1:01 PM · Jan 4, 2023

Since the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1, 2022, the Miami Sector experienced a 400 percent increase in migrant encounters, officials said in a written statement. Since August, the HSTF-SE interdicted 7,784 migrants at sea and 4,401 migrants who managed to land of Florida beaches. In addition, officials recovered the bodies of 65 migrants during all of FY22.

Human smugglers continue to use makeshift or homemade vessels to move migrants across the Caribbean Sea to the Florida coast.



Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar
@USBPChiefMIP
·
Follow

#Breaking: During the past 24 hours, U.S. Border Patrol agents & LE partners responded to 5 migrant landings throughout the Florida Keys and encountered 88 Cuban migrants. @USCGSoutheast@mcsonews@CBPAMORegDirSE#NewYearsEve#Saturday#florida#Cuba







1:35 PM · Dec 31, 2022



Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar
@USBPChiefMIP
·
Follow

𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧’𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖:Over 160 migrants have been encountered today in the #Florida Keys. Border Patrol agents with support from federal, state, and local LE partners responded to 10 migrant landings since midnight. #Breaking_News#NewYear#NewYear2023







12:28 PM · Jan 1, 2023

During the first two months of the new Fiscal Year 23, Miami Sector agents apprehended 2,048 migrants. This is more than half of the total apprehensions for all of FY22 when agents took 4,009 migrants into custody, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Nationwide Encounters report.

During the first two months of the previous year, agents only apprehended 336 migrants compared to the 2.048 in the same period this year — a 510 percent increase in this single sector. From the tweets above, it appears the official December numbers will greatly exceed those apprehended in November (1,122).

Between August and November 2022, Miami Sector agents apprehended 3,558 migrants. During the entire Fiscal Years 20 and 21 combined, these agents apprehended only 2,333 migrants.

1400 Migrants Captured at Sea, Along Florida Coast over New Year's Weekend (breitbart.com)