Coast Guard repatriates 124 migrants to Haiti

On Sept. 18, the U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 124 Haitian migrants following two separate interdictions off Haiti’s coast, highlighting the ongoing dangers of irregular maritime migration faced by many Haitians seeking a better future. The migrants, aboard overcrowded and unsafe vessels, were intercepted during their attempt to flee challenging conditions in Haiti.

“Our number one priority is to prevent the unnecessary loss of life at sea,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brent Pearson, Coast Guard liaison officer to the U.S. Embassy in Haiti. “Attempting unlawful migration in overloaded, unsafe vessels with no safety equipment is extremely dangerous and puts lives at risk.”

The first interdiction occurred Friday evening, Sept. 13,  when a U.S. Coast Guard aircrew spotted a heavily overloaded vessel. The Coast Guard Cutter William Trump intercepted the boat, which had been detected earlier by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The second interdiction took place early Sunday morning, prompting the deployment of Cutters Bear and Kathleen Moore to intercept another overloaded vessel.

Once aboard the Coast Guard cutters, the migrants were provided food, water, and medical attention before being processed for repatriation to Haiti.

Since Oct. 1, the Coast Guard has repatriated 631 Haitian migrants, part of a broader effort to manage the flow of people fleeing Haiti’s worsening economic, social, and political crises. The Coast Guard, working with U.S. Homeland Security partners, seeks to maintain maritime security while emphasizing the importance of lawful and safe migration pathways.

For many Haitians, the risks of these perilous journeys are driven by despair over the lack of opportunities and security in Haiti. Still, the Coast Guard continues to warn of the dangers associated with irregular migration and urges people to seek safer, legal alternatives.

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