Above: the United States Coast Guard Cutter Kodiak Island (Photo: USCG)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The crew of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Kodiak Island repatriated 46 Cuban migrants to Cuba on sunday, the Coast Guard announced in a release.

The migrants were returned to Bahia de Cabañas following the prosecution of four different migration cases.

“As the primary federal maritime law enforcement agency, the Coast Guard is tasked with interdicting undocumented migrants attempting to enter the U.S. illegally by sea,” said Rear Adm William Baumgartner, Seventh Coast Guard District commander. “Migrants who travel aboard ill-equipped vessels or smuggled aboard go-fast boats are putting their lives at extreme risk.  Our migrant interdiction patrols help save lives by deterring dangerous illegal migrant activity and removing migrants from unsafe environments.”

The Coast Guard said it had rescued 1,875 Cuban migrants in 2012.

“Regardless of other governments’ travel policy, the Coast Guard will continue to enforce federal laws and regulations prohibiting any person from encouraging illegal entry, or bringing, or attempting to bring, undocumented migrants into the US,” said Baumgartner said. .