MIAMI — The capsizing of a boat near the Bahamas on Sunday that killed at least 17 people — suspected to be Haitian nationals trying to land in Miami — underscores the dangers that migrants on illicit sea voyages face trying to reach American shores.
The trips “are inherently dangerous. A lot of these ventures don’t have safety equipment, are not prepared for the sea or the weather,” said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Estrada.
Over the last year, the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted a record number of Haitian migrants trying to reach the United States. Since Oct. 1, the agency had intercepted 6,009 Haitian migrants, according to government data from last month. That’s a nearly 300% increase from the previous fiscal year, and a 1,440% increase from the 2020 fiscal year.
