Border Patrol detained 13 Cuban immigrants in Florida for alleged "maritime smuggling".

The United States Customs and Border Protection Office on Tuesday detained a group of 13 Cuban immigrants who were traveling in a boat near Key West, Florida and are currently in custody.

According to statements by the head of the Border Patrol in Miami, Thomas G. Martin , the arrest occurred in the morning after a rustic boat touched down in South Florida, alleging that it was an episode of “ maritime smuggling ” .

Faced with the situation in Cuba, the Antilleans continue in the search to reach US lands despite warnings from the authorities of the dangers of emigrating to the US shores.

Since October 2020, the Coast Guard in Florida has intercepted some 700 immigrants from the island at sea . They usually end up being repatriated after being interviewed by immigration authorities.

It was learned that last Sunday a local citizen had seen a castaway on a boat near Key Biscayne, in Miami Bay , and immediately proceeded to notify the authorities, the EFE Agency indicated .

When the Border Patrol made the pertinent review, they discovered that it was a man of Cuban nationality who was adrift for 10 days and it was reported that three other people who had traveled with him died.

According to figures from US authorities, in 2019, 313 immigrants had been intercepted , in 2018 there were 259, in 2017 1,468 were detained, while the highest number in recent years had been in 2016, when 5,396 people were detained.

The entry of illegal Cubans into the United States was allowed until January 12, 2017 after Barack Obama withdrew immigration benefits due to the cancellation of the "dry feet, wet feet" policy that granted temporary permission to those who arrived. to US territory.

As of that date, Cubans who have tried to enter the United States have lacked temporary permission and, in the political asylum application processes, have had to circumvent the process on equal terms as immigrants from other countries do.