MIAMI, Florida (CMC)— The United States Coast Guard says that the crew from its cutter Decisive repatriated 109 Haitian migrants to Cap-Haitien, Haiti on Friday, after they were intercepted about 35 miles east of Punta Maisi, Cuba.

The US Coast Guard said the Decisive’s crew spotted the overloaded vessel and brought all the migrants aboard the cutter “due to safety of life at sea concern.”

“There were 83 males and 26 females, including two minors. Taking to the seas is always risky,” said Lieutenant Commander Jason Neiman, Coast Guard District Seven public affairs officer.

“There are inherent risks in attempting to make the voyage to the United States in these grossly overloaded vessels in treacherous waters,” he added. “We are actively patrolling for these unsafe and irregular maritime migration voyages throughout the Caribbean. Our mission remains the same to protect lives at sea.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the US Coast Guard said the crew of the cutter Venturous repatriated 89 Haitians to Cap-Haitien after being stopped about 17 miles northeast of Punta Maisi, Cuba.

The US Coast Guard said the Venturous’ crew spotted the overloaded vessel, “and when a deployed small boat crew arrived on scene, the people asked to be taken off the vessel.”

There were 53 males and 36 females, including minors, on board.

“Families are voluntarily asking to come off these unsafe vessels, because the risk for loss of life is great,” said Petty Officer Nicole J Groll, US Coast Guard District Seven public affairs.

Since October 1, 2021, the US Coast Guard said its crews have interdicted 3,412 Haitian migrants, compared to 1,527 in Fiscal Year 2021, 418 in Fiscal Year 2020, 932 in Fiscal Year 2019, 609 in Fiscal Year 2018, and 419 in Fiscal Year 2017.