Four Cuban Coast Guardsman defect in Key West, Fla.; still in uniform, they approach an officer

[Iwentsouth]

MIAMI (AP) -- Four Cuban coast guardsman defected Friday, docking their patrol boat at a Key West resort, walking into town and surrendering to a police officer, authorities said.

The men, dressed in their military uniforms, approached Officer Matt Dorgan at about 4 a.m. and told him they wanted to surrender, Key West police spokeswoman Cynthia Edwards said. One man had a Chinese handgun holstered to his side, which he allowed Dorgan to take.

Officers searching their boat docked at the Hyatt Marina Resort found two loaded AK-47 machine guns along with ammunition. The boat was still flying a Cuban flag.

"They were happy to be here and were compliant with all of our requests," said Officer Tara Koenig, a Spanish-speaking officer Dorgan called for assistance.

She said the men told her they had been on patrol about 1 a.m. when they decided to defect.

"My impression is that it was a last-minute decision," Koenig said. "They were patrolling, talking about living at the poverty line when they said 'You know what, the United States is only 90 miles that way.' So they set the heading on their boat, terminated communication with Cuba and headed straight here."

Edwards said the men were taken to the Monroe County jail, where they will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. An INS spokesman did not immediately return a call Friday.

Cubans who make it to U.S. soil are usually allowed to remain in the country, while those intercepted at sea are generally returned to Cuba.

The men's patrol boat has been turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard spokeswoman had no immediate comment and it could not be determined if the U.S. military had been tracking the men before they arrived at Key West.

No one answered the phone at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Friday morning.

Four more Cubans find freedom!

Now if we can only get the people who think Cuba is a "workers paradise" and like to kiss Castros ass to defect to there. America would be a much better place.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Iwentsouth

MIAMI (AP) -- Four Cuban coast guardsman defected Friday, docking their patrol boat at a Key West resort, walking into town and surrendering to a police officer, authorities said.

The men, dressed in their military uniforms, approached Officer Matt Dorgan at about 4 a.m. and told him they wanted to surrender, Key West police spokeswoman Cynthia Edwards said. One man had a Chinese handgun holstered to his side, which he allowed Dorgan to take.

Officers searching their boat docked at the Hyatt Marina Resort found two loaded AK-47 machine guns along with ammunition. The boat was still flying a Cuban flag.

"They were happy to be here and were compliant with all of our requests," said Officer Tara Koenig, a Spanish-speaking officer Dorgan called for assistance.

She said the men told her they had been on patrol about 1 a.m. when they decided to defect.

"My impression is that it was a last-minute decision," Koenig said. "They were patrolling, talking about living at the poverty line when they said 'You know what, the United States is only 90 miles that way.' So they set the heading on their boat, terminated communication with Cuba and headed straight here."

Edwards said the men were taken to the Monroe County jail, where they will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. An INS spokesman did not immediately return a call Friday.

Cubans who make it to U.S. soil are usually allowed to remain in the country, while those intercepted at sea are generally returned to Cuba.

The men's patrol boat has been turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard spokeswoman had no immediate comment and it could not be determined if the U.S. military had been tracking the men before they arrived at Key West.

No one answered the phone at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Friday morning.

Four more Cubans find freedom!

Now if we can only get the people who think Cuba is a "workers paradise" and like to kiss Castros ass to defect to there. America would be a much better place.

amen

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Iwentsouth

MIAMI (AP) -- Four Cuban coast guardsman defected Friday, docking their patrol boat at a Key West resort, walking into town and surrendering to a police officer, authorities said.

The men, dressed in their military uniforms, approached Officer Matt Dorgan at about 4 a.m. and told him they wanted to surrender, Key West police spokeswoman Cynthia Edwards said. One man had a Chinese handgun holstered to his side, which he allowed Dorgan to take.

Officers searching their boat docked at the Hyatt Marina Resort found two loaded AK-47 machine guns along with ammunition. The boat was still flying a Cuban flag.

"They were happy to be here and were compliant with all of our requests," said Officer Tara Koenig, a Spanish-speaking officer Dorgan called for assistance.

She said the men told her they had been on patrol about 1 a.m. when they decided to defect.

"My impression is that it was a last-minute decision," Koenig said. "They were patrolling, talking about living at the poverty line when they said 'You know what, the United States is only 90 miles that way.' So they set the heading on their boat, terminated communication with Cuba and headed straight here."

Edwards said the men were taken to the Monroe County jail, where they will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. An INS spokesman did not immediately return a call Friday.

Cubans who make it to U.S. soil are usually allowed to remain in the country, while those intercepted at sea are generally returned to Cuba.

The men's patrol boat has been turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard spokeswoman had no immediate comment and it could not be determined if the U.S. military had been tracking the men before they arrived at Key West.

No one answered the phone at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Friday morning.

Four more Cubans find freedom!

Now if we can only get the people who think Cuba is a "workers paradise" and like to kiss Castros ass to defect to there. America would be a much better place.

amen

Yay!

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Well, I'm glad they saw fit to get out from under Castro, but they'd better learn English and fast. Besides, where the hell were our patrols? Weren't we even watching!? Naturalization shouldn't be through them setting foot on the country before being caught. We allow so many people into the country an naturalize only so many per year. These guys are lucky.

 

[QTPie]

I wish them luck.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Well, I'm glad they saw fit to get out from under Castro, but they'd better learn English and fast. Besides, where the hell were our patrols? Weren't we even watching!? Naturalization shouldn't be through them setting foot on the country before being caught. We allow so many people into the country an naturalize only so many per year. These guys are lucky.

This is Floriduh we are talking bout Nik

 

[bGIveNs33]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt Well, I'm glad they saw fit to get out from under Castro, but they'd better learn English and fast. Besides, where the hell were our patrols? Weren't we even watching!? Naturalization shouldn't be through them setting foot on the country before being caught. We allow so many people into the country an naturalize only so many per year. These guys are lucky.

This is Floriduh we are talking bout Nik

There is something like 1200 miles of coastline in Florida... I'd like to see you watch it all.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Iwentsouth

MIAMI (AP) -- Four Cuban coast guardsman defected Friday, docking their patrol boat at a Key West resort, walking into town and surrendering to a police officer, authorities said.

The men, dressed in their military uniforms, approached Officer Matt Dorgan at about 4 a.m. and told him they wanted to surrender, Key West police spokeswoman Cynthia Edwards said. One man had a Chinese handgun holstered to his side, which he allowed Dorgan to take.

Officers searching their boat docked at the Hyatt Marina Resort found two loaded AK-47 machine guns along with ammunition. The boat was still flying a Cuban flag.

"They were happy to be here and were compliant with all of our requests," said Officer Tara Koenig, a Spanish-speaking officer Dorgan called for assistance.

She said the men told her they had been on patrol about 1 a.m. when they decided to defect.

"My impression is that it was a last-minute decision," Koenig said. "They were patrolling, talking about living at the poverty line when they said 'You know what, the United States is only 90 miles that way.' So they set the heading on their boat, terminated communication with Cuba and headed straight here."

Edwards said the men were taken to the Monroe County jail, where they will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. An INS spokesman did not immediately return a call Friday.

Cubans who make it to U.S. soil are usually allowed to remain in the country, while those intercepted at sea are generally returned to Cuba.

The men's patrol boat has been turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard spokeswoman had no immediate comment and it could not be determined if the U.S. military had been tracking the men before they arrived at Key West.

No one answered the phone at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Friday morning.

Four more Cubans find freedom!

Now if we can only get the people who think Cuba is a "workers paradise" and like to kiss Castros ass to defect to there. America would be a much better place.

Maybe it would be a workers' paradise if we didn't punish the workers for Castro's misdeeds with sanctions.

 

[FenrisUlf]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Well, I'm glad they saw fit to get out from under Castro, but they'd better learn English and fast. Besides, where the hell were our patrols? Weren't we even watching!? Naturalization shouldn't be through them setting foot on the country before being caught. We allow so many people into the country an naturalize only so many per year. These guys are lucky.

Nah, no need to learn english. They'll just live in Miami. Waaaaay too much water to patrol - how do you think drugs get into this country? Cubans have a special policy - if you make it to US soil, you are automatically given asylum, since you would probably be killed if you returned.