Cuban Man Rescued Off Coast of Key Biscayne
The man was found on a makeshift raft 16 miles east of the island on October 12.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Immigration
A man from Cuba was rescued on October 12 after being spotted on a makeshift raft by a passing boater. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the site 16 miles east of Key Biscayne.
Why it matters
The rescue highlights the ongoing dangers for those navigating the Florida Straits, a crossing spanning roughly 90 to 100 miles. Since the end of the wet foot, dry foot policy in 2017, unauthorized arrivals remain subject to federal repatriation processes.
Rescuers located the man 16 miles off the coast of Key Biscayne after he was spotted on a makeshift raft. This distance represents a fraction of the 90 to 100-mile journey across the Florida Straits.
The players
U.S. Coast Guard
The federal maritime service responsible for the search and rescue and administrative processing of the individual.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
The local agency that provided medical clearance for the man following his rescue.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The federal agency that participated in the maritime rescue operations.
The details
After the initial alert was broadcast on VHF marine radio channel 16, marine units from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard arrived on the scene. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue paramedics provided initial medical clearance before the man was transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Melvin Bell. He is now undergoing administrative processing as Cuban nationals arriving without authorization are subject to repatriation under current U.S. policy.
Timeline
January 2017 marked the end of the federal wet foot, dry foot policy.
The man was discovered on his makeshift raft on October 12, 2026.
Beyond the 305
This rescue follows the 2017 termination of the wet foot, dry foot policy, which once granted unique status to Cuban migrants arriving on U.S. soil. The current federal framework now subjects all unauthorized arrivals from Cuba to repatriation.
Local residents who spend time on the water should continue to monitor VHF marine channel 16, as passing boaters often serve as the first responders in sightings of vessels in distress. There are no changes to local land-based services as the man has been moved to federal custody.
The takeaway
This rescue highlights the persistent risks of the Florida Straits crossing for migrants. Residents can follow the U.S. Coast Guard's regional updates for information on maritime safety and federal enforcement trends in the Florida Straits.
Further reading
For more on federal policies affecting local maritime arrivals, see our Immigration page.
