REPATRIATION OF 250 HAITIAN MIGRANTS

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002871 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR SMIG HA SUBJECT: REPATRIATION OF 250 HAITIAN MIGRANTS On November 11, 2005, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Resolute repatriated 250 Haitians (188 adult males, 60 adult females, and two minor males) to Admiral Killick Naval Base in Port-au-Prince. The Resolute interdicted the migrants in two separate vessels on November 10, 50 miles north of La Tortue island. All of the migrants were in good physical condition, though the Resolute determined that neither vessel was seaworthy. No migrants stated fear of political persecution as their motivation for setting sail. Some claimed economic misery as their motivation. The Haitian National Office of Migration distributed T-shirts and travel money (app. 10USD) to each repatriated migrant. This is the first significant interdiction and repatriation of Haitian migrants in over two months, though more may follow now that the hurricane season is coming to an end. CARNEY