Agents from the Miami Sector Border Patrol reported a 500% increase of apprehensions during fiscal year 2022.

Agents apprehended 2,350 foreign nationals who attempted to illegally enter Florida via sea from Sept. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 20,22. Most of them were Cubans.

Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar stated that they also interdicted 131 maritime-smuggling incidents, an increase of 330% from fuiscal 2911.

These numbers are on the rise.

The Center Square has preliminary data from a Border Patrol agent that shows that apprehensions in just the first three weeks December are likely to surpass records for Miami Sector. They already account for nearly half of all apprehensions for fiscal 2022.

Over the course of three weeks, Miami Sector Border Patrol agents arrested 1,008 illegal foreign citizens and reported 20 gotaways. Agents use the term “gotaways” to describe illegal foreign nationals who are unable to surrender at ports or apply for asylum or immigration. Over this period, agents also recovered 13 bodies from foreign nationals.

Despite the cold front approaching, BP agents continued to block illegal entry into Florida in the days before Christmas.

Slosar stated that 175 Cubans were taken into custody by agents within 24 hours.

After arriving in boats made of sheet metal and motors, they were able to respond to calls and receive support from local, federal, and state law enforcement partners.

Agents from Miami Sector BP also arrested a human smuggling plot earlier in the month.

BP agents encountered 13 illegal immigrants from Romania, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago who were being illegally brought to Florida by smugglers. They worked with law enforcement partners and apprehended them. The incident is being investigated by Homeland Security agents from Miami.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to apprehend record numbers of Cubans at sea. Crews have apprehended 2,723 Cubans since Oct. 1, 2022.

Coast Guard data shows that they had apprehended 6,182 people in fiscal 2022, compared with 49 in fiscal 2020.

They continued their efforts even before Christmas. Three men were arrested in Big Pine Key by the Coast Guard Station Marathon on Dec 21st and Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge crews. They were seen rowing from Cuba with paddles and a contraption of inflated materials, tied together by rope.

The Coast Guard and U.S Embassy in Cuba warn Cubans not to travel by sea to Florida. If they do, they will be arrested and repatriated.

Spanish warns that “No Ponga En Peligro A Usted Ni A Su Familia” (don’t put yourself or your family at risk). It warns about “el mal Timpo, las Tormentas and Rocas debajo Del Mar, la faltade Visibilidad por Niebla and Las Corrientes De Resaca,” which means they may encounter bad weather, storms and rocks under the water, as well as lack of visibility due fog and rip currents.

Another warns: “Los cielos azules se convierten en tormentas; botes improvisados se hunden; incluso los nadadores fuertes se cansan. Demasiados migrantes arriesgan sus vidas solo para morir en el mar.”

This means that “Blue skies turn to storms; makeshift vessels sink; even strong swimmers get tired.” Many migrants are willing to risk their lives in order to drown at sea.

Coast Guard warns that anyone stopped at sea will be returned to their country of origin.

The Coast Guard states that all those arrested are given food, water and shelter before being processed for repatriation. Individuals and their families living in the U.S. should contact their U.S. representative if they are concerned about relatives being interdicted at sea.