U.S. repatriates 20 Cubans

Havana, Feb 11 --(EFE)-- Twenty Cubans who tried to enter the United States illegally were repatriated by the U.S. Coast Guard after being intercepted at sea, government officials said Thursday.

The Cuban rafters, who were returned to Cuba on Wednesday after being intercepted that same day and Saturday, had left from the western provinces of Havana and Matanzas, and from the eastern provinces of Camaguey and Las Tunas, according to a statement issued by the National Information Agency (AIN).

The United States and Cuba signed on May 2, 1995, an immigration agreement that stipulates the repatriation of Cubans intercepted at sea or of those attempting to enter Guantanamo Naval Base.

A total of 1,550 Cubans have been repatriated under the immigration agreement. EFE