The U.S. Border Patrol announced on Tuesday that 11 Cuban migrants, who landed in Key West in mid-August, are currently undergoing deportation proceedings. The agency also disclosed that the vessel they used for their journey had been stolen.
Rosario "Pete" Vásquez, Chief of the Border Patrol, shared these updates on his official X account, several weeks after the group arrived at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
"Eleven Cuban nationals made landfall in the Keys on a stolen boat, marking a rare illegal landing. Every individual has been taken into custody and is being processed for deportation," Vásquez stated.
The latest details shed light on the mid-August landing at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West.
On August 14, it was reported that all individuals aboard the vessel were apprehended and handed over to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), according to confirmation from the Key West Police.
The Border Patrol has now released images of the vessel involved, a wooden boat with a green hull and a canvas canopy.
Vásquez used this incident as an opportunity to caution against illegal entry into the United States.
"The 'wet foot, dry foot' era is over. The border is closed to all illegal entries," he declared.
The "wet foot, dry foot" policy, which for years provided preferential treatment to Cubans who reached U.S. soil, was rescinded in January 2017 by the Obama administration.
Since the policy change, reaching U.S. territory does not guarantee Cuban migrants the right to stay, and those who enter unlawfully are subject to deportation processes.
The Border Patrol's warning comes amid a surge in Cuban deportations. On August 21, 127 individuals were returned to Cuba from the United States.
According to released statistics, 793 Cubans have been deported from the United States so far in 2026, while 1,292 have been sent back to the island in the current fiscal year, which commenced on October 1, 2025, and will end on September 30, 2026.
Furthermore, over 4,000 Cubans have received deportation orders in Florida immigration courts between October 2025 and June of this year.
Vásquez, who took over as Border Patrol Chief on June 1, 2026, with over 26 years of service in the agency, oversees nearly 20,000 agents nationwide. His appointment occurred under President Donald Trump's administration, with Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security and Rodney S. Scott leading the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
This case is part of an ever-evolving immigration landscape. Stay informed about deportations, border operations, and immigration policies in our U.S. Immigration section.
Understanding Cuban Deportations and Border Policies
What happens to Cuban migrants who reach U.S. soil?
Since the end of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy in 2017, reaching U.S. territory does not guarantee Cuban migrants the right to stay. Those entering illegally are subject to deportation proceedings.
Why was the "wet foot, dry foot" policy ended?
The "wet foot, dry foot" policy was ended by the Obama administration in January 2017 to normalize immigration policies and remove preferential treatment for Cuban migrants, aligning them with other nationalities.