USA. 169 repatriated Cubans intercepted at sea

The United States Coast Guard today repatriated 169 Cubans who tried to reach the country by sea and were intercepted by officers of the institution in rudimentary boats in the Atlantic.

Immigrants intercepted at nine different operations before they touched American soil, were repatriated to Bahia de Cabanas, in northern Cuba, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

According to this institution, in so far this fiscal year, which began on October 1, 1,942 Cubans have been intercepted in the Straits of Florida, 396 of them in January.

Cubans who touch land in the United States are encouraged by the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 and its "dry foot / wet foot", so they can stay in the country, while those who are intercepted before reaching the coast They deported to the island.

Last fiscal year, between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015, more than 43,000 Cubans arrived in the US, representing an increase of over 77% over the previous period.

The Coast Guard insisted today that the immigration policies of the United States has not changed and urged Cubans not to travel in boats that are not seaworthy.According to the institution, uncertainty about a possible change in the US immigration policy toward Cuba has triggered the arrival of immigrants from the island country since it began in December 2014 the process of normalization between the two Governments.