• Submitted by: admin
• United States
• Politics and Government
• 07 / 08 / 2010

MIAMI — Seven Cubans who set off by raft from the Cuba hoping to reach the United States were intercepted and returned home on Tuesday, US Coast Guard officials said.

The would-be immigrants, traveling on a four-meter (13-foot) raft some 40 kilometers (19 miles) south of Key West, Florida were spotted by a passing ship, which reported them to US authorities.

"The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island repatriated seven Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba," US officials said after the action.

Washington's "wet foot, dry feet" policy for Cubans attempting to reach US shores by sea means that people caught in the waters between the nations are sent home, while those who manage to reach dry land are legally able to stay in the country.

Immigration is a thorny issue between the two countries, which have had no formal diplomatic ties since 1961.

Most recently in immigration talks, Washington agreed to grant 20,000 visas a year to Cuban immigrants and to send back Cubans caught on the high seas trying to reach US territory.

Cuba in turn agreed to seek to convince people planning to leave the island to stay.

Source: AFP