The number of Haitians intercepted by the US Coast Guard at sea and repatriated to their country of origin now exceeds 6,000 so far this fiscal year, after the repatriation this Thursday of 101 Haitian immigrants, the US Coast Guard reported.
The Coast Guard today repatriated 101 Haitians who were intercepted on a boat "overloaded" about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of the island of Tortue, Haiti.
The crew of the Vigilant Coast Guard cutter "arrived at the scene and reported that the boat was heavily overloaded and unsafe"said the institution in a statement.
The entire group of Haitians intercepted was transferred by the Coast Guard to Cap Haitien, in the Caribbean country.
"The Coast Guard and our partners will continue to patrol, detect, intercept and deter these unsafe voyages."said Lt. Matthew Miller of the US Coast Guard District Seven.
Since October 1, 2021, when the current fiscal year began, the Coast Guard has intercepted 6,009 Haitians at sea who tried to reach the coast of Florida, compared to 1,527 immigrants from this country during all of fiscal year 2021.
In 2020, only 418 Haitians were intercepted.
Haiti is going through a serious crisis in practically all orders, aggravated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, on July 7, 2021.
Armed groups have taken over large territories of Port-au-Prince and other Haitian cities and are accused by the authorities of committing murders, rapes and continuous kidnappings of Haitians and foreigners that take place mainly in the capital.