Identifier	Created	Classification	Origin
08PORTAUPRINCE186	2008-02-08 17:44:00	UNCLASSIFIED	Embassy Port Au Prince

Cable title:

FEBRUARY 4 REPATRIATION OF 131 MIGRANTS

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VZCZCXRO3580
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #0186 0391744
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081744Z FEB 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7629
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1786
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1591
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 1014
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1421

					  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