Thread: Officials seeing fewer Cubans trying to reach U.S.

Officials seeing fewer Cubans trying to reach U.S.

MIAMI (AP) — Fewer Cubans have been apprehended this year trying to enter the United States, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The agency said over the weekend it had seen 25% fewer Cubans trying to illegally enter the country this fiscal year, which ends Tuesday. That amounts to 2,140 people, compared with 2,868 migrants last year.

Under U.S. policy, Cubans caught at sea are typically returned to their native country, while those who make landfall are allowed to remain in the country.

The decline has come after an ailing Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president in February, ceding control of the communist nation to his brother after nearly a half-century in power.

Still, plenty of Cubans are trying to make the 90-mile trip to the United States. Officials sent 29 Cubans back in four different incidents over the past week.

The Coast Guard said almost 100 Cubans in the most recent two-year period died or are missing and presumed dead attempting the trip to the U.S.

A Cuban who has not been identified was declared dead Wednesday from head injuries while trying to evade federal agents in rough seas. He was riding on an overloaded 25-foot speedboat with 32 others.

The decrease in those attempting the journey could be due to a busy Atlantic storm season. The Caribbean has been walloped much of the past two months by several hurricanes and named storms, after two relatively quiet years.
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The only reason fewer Cubans are caught is because most of them are being smuggled by go fast boats. It is rare for them to make shore on a raft. Every week many make land and do so in the same spots. We read about Cubans making land almost every other day. The sad part is we are only spared when there are hurricanes out there.