ANOTHER VIOLENT ENCOUNTER BETWEEN CUBAN MIGRANTS AND US OFFICIALS Federal authorities have detained 43 Cubans after their boat rammed a Coast Guard ship in an effort to make it to the US shore. Two of the men have been charged with smuggling.
Shortly after the Coast Guard boat spotted the Cubans, it began pursuit. The Cuban boat refused to stop, and rammed the Coast Guard boat three times, incapacitating it. Two of the Cuban jumped off the boat in an attempt to flee, but were captured. The Cuban boat eventually ran aground, and the remaining 41 people were apprehended.
The boat was severely overcrowded, with 43 people onboard a 32-foot boat, rendering it extremely vulnerable to sea conditions. Two passengers had to be hospitalized, and many others were treated at the scene for injuries received when the boat ran aground.
This was just the latest in a series of encounters between Cuban migrants and US officials. Last summer the Coast Guard’s efforts to keep a group of Cubans from shore with fire hoses and mace was broadcast live on television. The incident caused an upheaval not only among the Cuban-American community, but also among almost all who saw it. Since then, there have been numerous incidents of violence as Cubans attempt to make it to the US. < Back | Next > Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. | 
