Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Throughout the Florida Straits, Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage, and Mona Passage, the U.S. Coast Guard—along with Homeland Security Task Force-Southeast partners—maintains a continual presence in the air and on the water to detect and deter irregular, unlawful maritime migration. This ongoing effort, known as Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS), is a combined, multi-layered approach designed to protect safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories. Members and assets from all across the Coast Guard deploy to the Coast Guard Seventh District in support of OVS. Our efforts in Fiscal Year 2023 led to the interception of 11,955 migrants in unseaworthy vessels and hazardous conditions.
(Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Villa)
Throughout the Florida Straits, Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage, and Mona Passage, the U.S. Coast Guard—along with Homeland Security Task Force-Southeast partners—maintains a continual presence in the air and on the water to detect and deter irregular, unlawful maritime migration. This ongoing effort, known as Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS), is a combined, multi-layered approach designed to protect safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories. Members and assets from all across the Coast Guard deploy to the Coast Guard Seventh District in support of OVS. Our efforts in Fiscal Year 2023 led to the interception of 11,955 migrants in unseaworthy vessels and hazardous conditions.
(Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Villa)
