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Dozens of Cubans stranded at sea aboard Coast Guard vessel

This undated handout photo provided by the US Coast Guard shows US Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant. Thirty-eight Cuban migrants caught trying to sail to the U.S. are stranded aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, waiting for permission from the Cuban government to return home, The Associated Press has learned. The migrants were among about 96 Cubans who were intercepted at sea and taken aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant. The Cuban government allowed the return of the other 58 people. (Coast Guard via AP) This undated handout photo provided by the US Coast Guard shows US Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant. Thirty-eight Cuban migrants caught trying to sail to the U.S. are stranded aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, waiting for permission from the Cuban government to return home, The Associated Press has learned. The migrants were among about 96 Cubans who were intercepted at sea and taken aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant. The Cuban government allowed the return of the other 58 people. (Coast Guard via AP)

By Associated Press May 15, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Thirty-eight Cuban migrants caught trying to sail to the U.S. are stranded aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, waiting for permission from the Cuban government to return home.

The Associated Press has learned the migrants are aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant in the Florida Straits.

The would-be immigrants had tourist visas to the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia when they were intercepted by the Coast Guard. The Cuban government has refused to allow them return.

That’s according to two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss details.

The standoff at sea is likely to be a problem in the ongoing effort to re-establish diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba’s communist government.