Latin America

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts) Sat Oct 13, 2012, 08:09 AM Oct 2012

Cuban refugees' raft sinks off Mexico's Isla Mujeres

An improvised raft carrying 23 Cuban refugees has sunk as it approached a Mexican island near the popular resort of Cancun.

Two people have died and 11 are missing and presumed dead.

Survivors told Mexican media that their home-made raft sank as it hit the reefs surrounding Isla Mujeres on Friday morning.

>

The accident happened some 150 metres (140 yards) off Isla Mujeres, in an area known for its strong currents, the Mexican Navy said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19933634

10 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Cuban refugees' raft sinks off Mexico's Isla Mujeres (Original Post) dipsydoodle Oct 2012 OP

Shorter trip than the one to Florida. Just looked it up. Judi Lynn Oct 2012 #1

But that doesn't explain dipsydoodle Oct 2012 #2

I've read some Cubans prefer to go to Mexico, and come up across the border, Judi Lynn Oct 2012 #3

"the border goes from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico" Bacchus4.0 Oct 2012 #4

That link is dated 10/1/2007 4:40:57 PM ET dipsydoodle Oct 2012 #5

Here's a map for your convenience. Judi Lynn Oct 2012 #6

so that is where Canada is Bacchus4.0 Oct 2012 #7

... Judi Lynn Oct 2012 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author joshcryer Oct 2012 #9

Shameful that a peoples feels that this is a way out. joshcryer Oct 2012 #10

Judi Lynn

(160,527 posts)

1. Shorter trip than the one to Florida. Just looked it up.

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Sat Oct 13, 2012, 02:59 PM

Oct 2012

[center][/center]

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

2. But that doesn't explain

Reply to Judi Lynn (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 13, 2012, 03:18 PM

Oct 2012

how they thought they'd get into the US?

Judi Lynn

(160,527 posts)

3. I've read some Cubans prefer to go to Mexico, and come up across the border,

Reply to dipsydoodle (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 13, 2012, 03:37 PM

Oct 2012

along with Mexican, Central, South Americans, even Asians.

Have heard they see it as safer, even though hundreds of Mexican, Central American, etc. people die in the desert annually trying to cross that way. The border goes from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico.

Could be they've got contacts in Mexico.

Several years ago, the news came out that Florida "exile" gangsters had set up operations in Mexico, were pretending to be "coyotes" (guys delivering immigrants to the border) and were kidnapping the Cubans, instead, in Mexico, and holding them for ransom from their Florida "exile" relatives. "Entrepreneurs".