Cuban Fisherman Rescued Off Florida, Claims He Wasn’t Trying to Escape
A Cuban man found adrift off Florida’s coast says he was fishing, not attempting to immigrate, as officials warn of the dangers of illegal maritime crossings.
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A Cuban man found floating off the coast of Florida last week on a makeshift raft made of wood and foam has claimed he was fishing and had no intention of reaching the United States. Enrique René Reyes Martínez, 38, spoke via phone with Miami’s Univisión affiliate from Havana after being rescued by U.S. Coast Guard officials and repatriated.
A Fisherman’s Perilous Journey
Reyes was discovered 16 miles east of Key Biscayne, Florida, on October 12, after spending about five days at sea. The distance from Cojímar, Cuba, to Key Biscayne is approximately 230 miles. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO) released a photo of Reyes floating alone at sea, warning Cuban nationals against attempting the dangerous voyage across the Straits of Florida.
“This incident underscores the extreme danger of attempting illegal maritime migration,” CBP AMO said. “The open water is unforgiving, and these journeys can quickly become fatal.”
Reyes Claims He Was Fishing, Not Seeking Immigration
Reyes insisted he was not a “balsero,” the term for Cuban rafters seeking to escape communism by traveling to America. He emphasized that he had a seven-year-old daughter and that the thought of seeing her again kept him from going insane at sea.
“I never had the intention of leaving the country,” he said. “This is just something that happened to me that was very difficult and complicated.”
Reyes also mentioned surviving by staying calm and not panicking when he encountered a large shark beneath his raft. He credited his devotion to Our Lady of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba, for his survival.
Fishing Is Illegal in Cuba
Fishing is largely illegal in Cuba due to strict Communist Party regulations that limit access to food sources. Reyes’s journey has sparked questions about whether he will face persecution from the Cuban state for his actions.
Family members, however, have contradicted his claims, with a cousin stating that Reyes had expressed a desire to leave the country to give his daughter a better life. The cousin urged American authorities to allow him to stay.
Reyes expressed gratitude to the American rescuers and vowed not to fish again. His testimony highlights the complex motivations behind illegal maritime crossings and the risks involved.
Source: Breitbart
