August 22, 2005
Cuban ship in distress
There is an overturned speedboat in distress and the Coast Guard is hunting for survivors on the high seas now. It had been full of Cubans fleeing to freedom. Pray that there are survivors.
The EFE News report is here:
U.S. authorities search for 31 shipwrecked Cubans
Miami, Aug 22 (EFE).- The U.S. Coast Guard was looking for 31 Cuban shipwreck victims Monday in the waters of the Straits of Florida, after three survivors informed authorities that their vessel had capsized.
Luis Diaz, a Coast Guard spokesman in Miami, told EFE that authorities were notified that a cargo ship on Sunday rescued three Cubans from waters some 48 kilometers (30 miles) north of Matanzas, Cuba.
The would-be emigrants said they were among 34 people who had set off from Cuba in an eight-meter (26-foot), Florida-registered speedboat.
"Upon being informed of the situation, we began a search at four in the morning (Monday) and we found a boat, but we didn't find anyone underneath," not even supplies, Diaz said.
The Coast Guard officials do not know the details of what happened because the people who have the information are in Cuba.
"There are many questions, but the people who could give us the answers were taken to Cuba," the spokesman said.
Three Coast Guard vessels, a Coast Guard helicopter and a Navy aircraft were being used to search for the Cubans.
"We are hoping to find survivors because the water is warm and the weather is good. But if not, it would be a tragedy," Diaz told EFE.
Under the U.S. "wet foot, dry foot" policy, a Cuban immigrant intercepted at sea, even just meters from the shore, must be repatriated.
But one who manages to reach U.S. soil can remain in the country and become a resident at the end of one year.
The United States has detained 2,366 Cubans in the Straits of Florida since Oct. 1 of last year, the most during that period of time since the so-called 1994 "rafter crisis." EFE so/mc
Posted by Mora at August 22, 2005 02:54 PM
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Comments
It would be a tragedy. Let us hope they are found and rescued.
I hope that they will not be returned to Castro. Cuban refugees should be allowed in the U.S., not repatriated.
Posted by: Stefania at August 22, 2005 03:20 PM
"There are many questions, but the people who could give us the answers were taken to Cuba," the spokesman said.
This abhorrent policy must end.
Posted by: Kathleen at August 22, 2005 04:59 PM
I heard these news on the radio while driving home this afternoon. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Posted by: carmen at August 22, 2005 10:01 PM
There is only one man who can end the abhorrent "wet foot/dry foot" travesty of the law, Kathleen. Clinton started it, but only Bush can end it. The reason he hasn't and won't end it is because he fears the impact that another mass exodus of Cuban refugees would have on the presidential hopes of younger brother Jeb.
What President Bush should do is tell Castro in no uncertain terms that the U.S. will not allow him to dictate its immigration policy, and that if Castro ever again uses the threat of unleashing another Mariel to destabilize this country he'll be the one who has to put out to sea. This should satisfy all parties concerned: the xenophobes in both parties; the exiles who want to turn the heat on Castro's pressure cooker (as if it hasn't always run on full throttle); and the occasional stray refugee rescued on the high seas who will no be treated as if he were the prelude to a greater "invasion." Forget about turning the fire up on Castro's hapless victims: put the pressure on Bush to do the right thing. Unlike Clinton, Bush has a conscience: he knows what the right thing is. So why doesn't he do it?
I have come to the conclusion that it is Cuban-Americans--to whom Bush is beholden for, well, everything-- who have reassured him that he doesn't have to end this policy to keep their support.
It is Cuban-Americans (or at least those who speak for them in the halls of power) who don't want to have to deal with the xenophobia conjured-up by the media whenever large numbers of Cubans flee to the U.S., supposedly to spoil the longtimers' hallowed public image and incite Americans against all Cubans whether they came here 46 years ago or yesterday.
Posted by: M.A.T. at August 23, 2005 01:13 AM
Nice blog.I like this.
Paul
http://www.sify.com
Posted by: Paul at August 23, 2005 01:41 AM
MAT, I agree with you, and that's all the more reason to speak up, pick up the phone, write letters, email, blog, and let Bush know how you feel about this. If Cuban Americans in the halls of power are giving him a green light, let them and Bush know how you feel. There are always sell outs and compromises in politics, the price tag for this one is too high.
Posted by: Kathleen at August 23, 2005 02:48 PM
