45 Migrants Rescued from Overloaded Sailboat off Florida Coast



by BOB PRICE 16 Jan 2023

U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued a group of 45 migrants packed onto an overloaded sailboat. Photos and video show smugglers loaded the migrants onto the boat without life jackets.

U.S. Coast Guard Southeast officials tweeted a series of reports regarding a sailboat of the coast of Virginia Key carrying 45 Haitian migrants. Officials have not reported the nationality of the migrants.



USCGSoutheast
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Jan 12, 2023

@USCGSoutheast·
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#Breaking@USCG crews, and partner agencies are responding to a suspected illegal migration vessel off Virginia Key. Nationality is unknown at this time. Please stay clear of the area for responding aircraft, vessels, and land crews. #DontTakeToTheSea@USBPChiefMIP



USCGSoutheast
@USCGSoutheast
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@Update Crews are still rescuing folks from the vessel off Virginia Key. Our land partners are with people who left the vessel and took to the water to swim to shore. Please stay clear of the area for safety of responding aircraft, vessels, and land crews.







4:11 PM · Jan 12, 2023

A video from an approaching Coast Guard vessel shows the migrants packed on the deck of the sailboat without life jackets.



USCGSoutheast
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Jan 12, 2023

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Replying to @USCGSoutheastA short video and photos from the scene off Virginia Key. Rescuers are still removing people from the vessel.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1613669142728511490


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USCGSoutheast
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More updates will follow as they become available.







5:47 PM · Jan 12, 2023

 Responding Coast Guard and other law enforcement partners removed the 45 migrants from the sailboat and transferred them to a Coast Guard cutter where they received food, water, shelter, and basic medical screening. It is likely the migrants were repatriated to their home country.



Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar
@USBPChiefMIP
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#Breaking#Update#Miami#Florida
25 Haitian migrants were taken into U.S. Border Patrol custody. Local EMS was on scene to conduct medical screenings. Add’l migrants are being transferred to a USCG cutter. We appreciate the support from all of the responding agencies.






USCGSoutheast
@USCGSoutheast

#Breaking@USCG crews, and partner agencies are responding to a suspected illegal migration vessel off Virginia Key. Nationality is unknown at this time. Please stay clear of the area for responding aircraft, vessels, and land crews. #DontTakeToTheSea@USBPChiefMIP

8:02 PM · Jan 12, 2023

Elsewhere, Guardsmen from USCG Station Islamorada interdicted what appears to be a homemade watercraft packed with migrants. Again, none of the migrants had life jackets until Coast Guard law enforcement officials handed them out.




USCGSoutheast
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Jan 12, 2023

@USCGSoutheast·
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Replying to @USCGSoutheastA short video and photos from the scene off Virginia Key. Rescuers are still removing people from the vessel.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1613669142728511490


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USCGSoutheast
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More updates will follow as they become available.







5:47 PM · Jan 12, 2023

The crew of the Coast Guard boat stopped the vessel from reaching the U.S. coast in Florida.

45 Migrants Rescued from Overloaded Sailboat off Florida Coast (breitbart.com)