The crew of the US Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) USCGC William Flores repatriated 14 aliens to Cuba on Thursday, September 10, following an interdiction of a rustic vessel approximately 13 miles (21 kilometres) west of Elbow Cay in the Bahamas.
On September 3, Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders received notification from a US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations air crew, of a rustic vessel in Elbow Cay.
Sector Key West diverted the FRC USCGC Pablo Valent and a small boat crew to respond. The crew embarked 15 Cubans and transferred them aboard the cutter for processing and disposition.
The people were later transferred to William Flores for repatriation. One person was medically evacuated to shore for a higher level of care.
The coast guard said that once aboard a coast guard cutter, interdicted aliens are processed to determine their identity and are provided food, water, shelter and basic medical attention before disposition.