Cuban refugees rescued by cruise ship crew

Cuban refugees rescued by cruise ship crew

(3/19/06 - KTRK/GALVESTON, TX) - Dramatic video was caught on tape by a
local tourist as more than two dozen Cubans in distress in the waters of
the Caribbean were rescued by a cruise ship crew.

The Carnival Conquest ship docked in Galveston late Sunday afternoon and
many vacationers say it's a trip they'll never forget. The 28 Cuban
refugees will remain on the ship until the ship docks somewhere near
Miami later this week. In the meantime, passengers aboard the cruise
ship have quite a story to tell.

Amanda Kovach had intended to record memories of her spring break, but
she never imagined just how memorable it would be.

"We got closer and closer to the light and it turned out to be a boat.
We don't know about that, a boat in the middle of the ocean," said Kovach.

The 17-year-old was on the Carnival Conquest just off the coast of
Jamaica when the cruise ship came upon a boat in distress. Onboard,
there were 28 Cuban refugees stranded in the middle of the ocean.

"The people were waving to us. They were waving," said Kovach. "We could
actually hear them screaming like, calling for help, calling help and we
were yelling back at them."

Kovach's videotape captured images of the refugees being rescued by the
cruise ship's crew. One by one, the refugees were plucked off the raft
boat and brought to safety. Other passengers recall the heroic rescue.

"They had the big bright lights out on it and they kept watching them.
They would lose them and then they would find them again," said
passenger Tim Coyle.

"It was a pretty long extensive process, but you know it's worth it to
save them because I heard they were out on the raft for like two weeks,"
said eyewitness Kaleb Patchin.

Coast Guard officials say the refugees were kept in a secured area for
the remainder of the cruise. Kovach said that passengers raised money
and donated clothes for the refugees. It's a civics lesson in the flesh,
one that Kovach will remember forever.

"It definitely changes the way I think," he said. "You know, Americans
have it so well compared to people in these third world countries where
they are escaping their government. They are trying to get away. You
know, Americans have it so well. It's so nice."

Immigration and Custom Enforcements will get involved in the case once
the cruise ship docks in Florida.

There is a specific government policy dealing with Cuban refugees. It's
been dubbed the Wet Feet, Dry Feet Act. It's an amendment to the Cuban
Adjustment Act of 1966.

During the Clinton administration, there was an agreement made with the
Cuban government that any Cuban caught on the waters between the
nations, hence, wet feet, would be returned to Cuba or deported to a
third country. Any Cuban who makes it to shore and has dry feet can
remain in the U.S.

Since these Cubans were found in water, it's likely they will be sent
back to Cuba.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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