Hundreds more Haitian illegal immigrants land on Florida beaches



On August 6, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a human-smuggling ship just offshore Florida near Key Largo, carrying over 300 illegal aliens from Haiti. The ship had run aground in shallow waters.

According to Adam Hoffner, division chief for U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Miami operations,113 illegals jumped in and swam ashore. Those who made land were taken into Border Patrol custody and then medically screened. The 218 illegal aliens who remained on the smuggling vessel were transferred to U.S. Coast Guard ships and, according to the Miami Herald, will likely be sent back to Haiti.

\u201c#BreakingNews @USCG, @mcsonews, @CBPAMO, @CBPSoutheast & other partner agencies are on scene with a grounded sailing vessel off Ocean Reef, #KeyLargo. We ask the public to please transit the area with caution and give rescue crews space. Updates will follow. #SAR\u201d
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) 1659817765

Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar said that the incident was being treated as a "national security mission," and that authorities were still trying to identify the human smugglers among those who had been on board.

\u201c#BREAKING: 113 migrants from #Haiti were taken into #BorderPatrol custody after making landfall near Key Largo, #Florida. @USCGSoutheast & @CBPAMORegDirSE partners rescued the migrants who remained onboard the vessel. We appreciate the support from all of our partners on scene.\u201d
— Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (@Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar) 1659825939

Border Patrol Agent Adam Hoffner told NBC News that the smugglers responsible "treat the individuals like a commodity, and the more on the boat, the more money and profit they make."

Hoffner noted that U.S. Border Patrol has dealt with 16 illegal landings since August 4, resulting in the detention of 263. These Florida encounters do not include maritime interdictions, such as the recent July incidents near Boca Chita Key (where 163 Haitian illegal aliens were stopped and repatriated) and off Delray Beach (where 32 Haitian illegal aliens were prevented from making land).

Over 800 Haitians have landed illegally in the Florida Keys so far this year, while 2,953 Haitian migrants have been interdicted at sea since October 2021.

There have been numerous incidents like these since the Biden administration released thousands of Haitian illegal immigrants — previously housed at the encampment Del Rio, Texas — into the U.S. interior, despite claims that it would expel them from the country. The administration did, however, expel 4,000 Haitians on 36 deportation flights in May.

The assassination of Haiti's president Jovenel Moïse has made the Caribbean nation more volatile, which may prompt more U.S.-bound migration.

While Biden does little, Florida boat owners are running supplies to Cubans fighting for freedom



As the federal government appears to be standing pat amid pro-democracy protests in Cuba offering little more than words, local boat owners in Florida are taking action by running food and supplies to Cuban protesters fighting for their freedom.

What are the details?

A large group of boat owners inspired by the protests packed food, water, and medicine and started making trips to the island on Monday, WBFS-TV reported.

"We are just bringing supplies. They are trying to create a group to take on water, food, medicine, whatever we can to take a Cuba," one boat owner, Dennis Suayero, told the news outlet. "We are just waiting for the approval so we can enter and give it to them."

They reportedly said that if they're allowed to get close enough, they plan to hand over all the food and water to the protesters. Even if they can't get close enough, though, they hope their gesture will be an encouragement.

Coast Guard Warning Isn't Stopping Local Boat Owners From Attempting To Take Supplies To Cuba youtu.be

"We're going to Havana. If we have to intervene, if we have to stay, we'll do what we have to do," another participant, Santiago Rivero, posted on his Instagram, according to the Miami Herald. Rivero is reportedly a local Cuban American influencer with a large following.

"The [U.S.] president has done nothing, supposedly. At a minimum, we want to stand at the border of what are the Havana limits," he added.

What else?

The group's brave humanitarian actions come in the face of resistance from the federal government, as the U.S. Coast Guard this week warned Floridians not to make the trip.

#ThisJustIn - Please read Rear Admiral Eric C. Jones, Commander, @USCG Seventh District & Director, DHS Joint Task… https://t.co/l6BLxPjZ5B

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) 1626132007.0

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, himself the son of Cuban immigrants, declared that the U.S. would not accept Cuban refugees seeking escape from the communist country.

"Allow me to be clear: If you take to the sea, you will not come to the United States," Mayorkas said in a speech Tuesday.

"If individuals make, establish a well-founded fear of persecution or torture, they are referred to third countries for resettlement," he added. "They will not enter the United States."

Many in the U.S. are urging the Biden administration to take action in support of the Cuban people and against the oppressive communist regime, especially as reports have surfaced indicating the regime has begun cracking down on the protest movement by shutting off the internet and violently rounding up protesters.

So far, however, the Biden administration has only offered words of support.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), whose parents escaped Cuba in the 1950s, is asking for more:

After our meeting with @WhiteHouse yesterday we wrote a follow up to @Potus on 4 specific actions on #Cuba… https://t.co/eoIWmKlPMr

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) 1626312450.0

'Truly incredible': Missing Florida boater found clinging to capsized vessel 86 miles from shore



A missing Florida man was rescued Sunday after being found 86 miles from shore, clinging for dear life to his capsized boat in an outcome one U.S. Coast Guard captain called "truly incredible."

What are the details?

USA Today reported that Stuart Bee, 62, took off Friday afternoon from Port Canaveral aboard his 32-foot Sea Ray. He was reported missing shortly before noon the next day by a member of Cape Marina who became concerned because Bee typically did not spend the night out at sea.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class David Micallef said Bee's boat broke down and at around midnight on Saturday, the vessel began taking on water. He was found Sunday morning by the crew of a 225-foot container ship named Angeles, clinging to the top of his boat while waving his shirt in the air.

#MustSee: Stuart Bee is recovered by the 225-foot motor vessel, #Angeles. The crew spotted the man clinging to the… https://t.co/uY7oMifZvh
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast)1606696185.0

According to CBS News, Coast Guard crews were dispatched to the Angeles to transport Bee back to shore.

"Saving lives at sea is our highest calling," Capt. Mark Vlaun, commanding officer of Sector Jacksonville

said in a statement. "This is a truly incredible outcome that demonstrates the bond among all mariners and our community. Thank you to our mission partners that launch into action and to all who got the word out to find and rescue Mr. Bee."

"It's an amazing story," Micallef added. "We're just very thankful for the motor vessel Angeles and their entire crew for keeping a sharp lookout. And we're just thankful, especially during this holiday season, that we can bring this man home to his family."