UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000186

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM HA
SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 4 REPATRIATION OF 131 MIGRANTS


1. On February 4, the US Coast Guard (USCG) transferred 131
Haitian migrants into the custody of the GoH in
Port-au-Prince, Haiti. On February 2, the USCG intercepted a
40-foot sail freighter carrying these 131 Haitian migrants 30
nautical miles west of Great Inaugua, the Bahamas.


2. The migrants claimed that Nassau, The Bahamas was their
final destination. Five migrants said that they paid 10,000
Haitian gourdes ($274) for the voyage. All other
interlocutors asserted that they did not pay a fee. The
non-paying migrants claimed to have boarded the vessel at the
last moment when it became clear that the vessel was
departing for a clandestine voyage. The USCG was not able to
identify the sail freighter's crew.


3. For calendar year 2008, the USCG has repatriated 374
migrants.
SANDERSON