The 32 rafters, 23 men and 9 women residents of Matanzas, Cienfuegos and Ciego de Ávila provinces, were handed over to the Cuban authorities at Orozco Port, in Artemisa province. Recently, another operation was also conducted in which 49 rafters were sent back to Cuba.
According to a national television report, the 32 irregular migrants were intercepted on the high seas aboard highly-dangerous makeshift rafts in the attempt to reach Florida illegally from the western province of Matanzas.
US immigration authorities have to date sent as many as 1,554 irregular migrants back to Cuba by sea and over 1,300 by air, from Mexico, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands.
Such operations are in accordance with the Cuban government´s political will set down in the bilateral agreements signed with these three nations to prevent irregular migration and exits jeopardizing their own life, as well as fighting acts of violence closely related to these events.
Cuban authorities have reiterated that the increased economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US government on Cuba is one of major causes for Cubans to illegally immigrate to the United States, a country that is also restricting consular service access for Cubans.
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