Survivors of migrant trip questioned

Posted on Tue, Nov. 08, 2005

IMMIGRATION
Survivors of migrant trip questioned
A failed Cuban migrant smuggling run that left two women dead was second
time in less than a month in which Cuban migrants perished from a
capsized boat.
BY JENNIFER BABSON
jbabson@herald.com

Federal investigators interviewed survivors of a botched Cuban migrant
smuggling run Monday and the Monroe County medical examiner scheduled
autopsies today on two women who perished during that run when a
speedboat carrying them capsized over the weekend in the Florida Straits.

It was the second time in less than a month in which Cuban migrants
perished on the high seas when the boat carrying them capsized. On Oct.
13, six-year old Julian Villasuso died off the Keys.

Several other alleged migrant smuggling runs were also halted off the
Keys over the weekend by the U.S. Coast Guard.

On Monday night, 34 passengers and at least one suspected smuggler
remained aboard a Coast Guard cutter off Key West as U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement agents interviewed survivors.

Some 37 people were packed aboard the 27-foot, Florida-registered Hydra
Sport boat early Saturday evening when a Coast Guard helicopter spotted
the overloaded vessel about 75 miles south of Key West, according to the
Coast Guard. The Cuban women who died in the latest tragedy were both at
least 50 years old.

The boat reportedly departed from Havana province on Cuba's north coast.
A number of very small children were onboard, according to sources.

RESCUE

About 20 minutes after it was spotted, the Coast Guard cutter Metompkin
arrived on-scene and observed the boat almost at a dead stop. It was
taking on water and passengers appeared to be trying to bail it out,
according to the Coast Guard.

The cutter crew launched a rescue boat, distributed life jackets, and
moved about 15 of the migrants off the boat for transfer to the Metompkin.

When the rescue boat returned to pick up more migrants, the speedboat
rolled over in rough four-to-six foot seas -- thrusting 22 people into
the ocean.

Coast Guard personnel scrambled to rescue them, with at least one
officer jumping into the water to save desperate migrants, said Dana
Warr, a Miami-based Coast Guard spokesman.

Once those clamoring for help had been rescued from the sea, the
migrants gave the Coast Guard personnel chilling news: two women were
missing.

Three helicopters were launched to search for them, while the crew of
the Coast Guard cutter Dauntless was diverted to right the capsized boat.

Crew members discovered the women's bodies when the boat was finally
turned around hours later.

Now prosecutors and investigators find themselves in nearly a reprisal
of last month's tragic case.

It's not clear whether the government will decide to bring any of the
survivors into the United States as potential witnesses in a possible
criminal case against alleged smugglers. Spokeswomen for the U.S.
Attorney's Office and ICE declined to comment Monday.

IMMIGRATION POLICY

Under the U.S. wet-foot/dry-foot immigration policy, Cubans who reach
land are allowed to stay while those stopped at sea are generally
returned to Cuba. In recent months, the Coast Guard has reported a
dramatic increase in the number of Cubans trying to reach Florida
illegally by sea.

In a departure from normal immigration procedure, the government brought
Villasuso's parents into the United States, while 25 other Cubans on the
same boat were returned last week to the island. Two men charged with
trying to smuggle the group into Florida have pleaded guilty. They were
not charged in connection with Villasuso's death, however.

Coast Guard officials said the most recent incident underscored the
ruthlessness of smugglers willing to risk the lives of passengers by
overloading boats at a time of the year when seas are traditionally rougher.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/13108685.htm