US Coast Guard repatriates dozens of Haitian migrants intercepted last weekend in the Bahamas

US Coast Guard repatriates Haitian migrants

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A U.S. Coast Guard cutter has repatriated 78 Haitian migrants whose overloaded sail freighter was stopped in Bahamian waters last weekend.

A Coast Guard statement says the vessel returned the migrants to Cap Haitien, on the north coast of the earthquake-crippled nation.

The guard says Haitian personnel were available to receive them Thursday.

A patrol boat from the Royal Bahamian Defense Force intercepted the migrants on Saturday, and the island chain asked the U.S. for help getting them back to Haiti.

The U.S. has increased patrols in the Caribbean since the Jan. 12 earthquake, but authorities say there are no signs so far of increased migration by sea from Haiti.