Published Saturday, January 9, 1999, in the Miami Herald

Coast Guard repatriates 53 Cubans

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- (AP) -- The U.S. Coast Guard said it returned 53 Cuban migrants to their homeland Friday.

The migrants were among 59 Cubans intercepted at sea since Dec. 28, 1998, the Coast Guard said.

A woman who went into labor during the rescue operation was flown to the United States for emergency medical treatment, along with four other people, including her family members. One person was taken to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The Coast Guard intercepted five boats carrying Cubans toward the United States during the last days of 1998.

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