13 of 17 stopped at sea are returned to Cuba

Published Saturday, July 12, 1997, in the Miami Herald

13 of 17 stopped at sea are returned to Cuba

Thirteen Cubans from a group of 17 intercepted at sea were repatriated Friday by the U.S. Coast Guard. They were delivered to the port of Cabañas.

The others were taken to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. If they can prove they will be persecuted if returned to Cuba, they will be turned over to a third country willing to accept them.

Their 20-foot boat was intercepted Monday by the cutter Matagorda 10 miles south of Orange Cay in the Bahamas.