Cubans picked up on 8/3 western

[TeensMom]

Don't know if anyone else is interested in follow-up, but I have been doing occasional web search of Florida papers to see if there were any news reports regarding the 5 Cubans picked up Thursday evening of the 8/3 sailing. (Politically, I'm usually very conservative, but where kids are involved, I tend to get a little mushy.)

Today, I came across an article from the Sun-Sentinel (sun-sentinel.com) reporting that three of the 5 were repatriated and two were transferred to Guantanamo Bay for further processing (that's a little scary - isn't that where we are keeping the terrorists?).

Anyway, thought I'd pass it on. If anyone knows more, I'd like to hear.

 

[Hopkins]

That's very interesting. Someone said that the Cubans didn't want to be picked up and wanted to reach the US. They understood what being intercepted by a ship and then the Coast Guard meant. That they'd be sent back. The two that ended up at Guantanamo Bay for further processing must have raised some sort of "red flag". That is where we are holding the terrorists.

Scary indeed.
Tina

 

[din]

I thought Guantanamo Bay also performed other functions like processing refugees and a military base. I recall that where the terrorist are held is pretty far from the main camp itself.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Just information... no political statement being made here...

The U.S. has long been using Guantanamo Bay for the processing of refugees (both Cuban and Haitian) picked up at sea. Since Guantanamo Bay is not U.S. soil, the red tape to repatriate the refugees from Guantanamo Bay is far less than it would be if they were held anywhere in the U.S.

 

[din]

Dave... thanks...

 

[Carol RN]

Where did the Cubans bunk when they were aboard the Magic?

 

[TeensMom]

The Cubans were aboard only a short time (45 minutes or so). I suspect they were kept down in a crew or other secure area.

After I did the initial post, a friend told me that Gtmo Bay is indeed where a lot of refugees are taken for the very issues of it not being "American soil" and making repatriation easier. I still wonder which 2 they took there - maybe the 2 men?