By JACOB LOPEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
A sudden flood of media attention may have become overwhelming for the six men who spent 20 days at sea after immigrating to the U.S. from Cuba.
The San Benito News contacted La Posada Providencia, a shelter that houses immigrants and asylum seekers, to schedule an interview with the men. However, representatives for the shelter informed the News that, “the clients are no longer doing interviews anymore. It’s just become too overwhelming (for the immigrants).”
According to various reports, the Cuban men planned to enter Mexico, trek through the country and cross the border into the U.S. – this following several days planning and parting ways with their families.
They set off on a small boat on Aug. 13 and reportedly packed enough food for about a week: water, bread, crackers and some condensed milk. It wasn’t enough however, given that they were out at sea for 20 days.
Just two days after they set off, the men ran out of gas for their motor, tossed it into the water and built an impromptu sail from a shower curtain, according to a La Posada statement.
The immigrants then spent the remainder of their 20-day journey sailing. They landed on the beaches of South Padre Island during the early morning hours of Monday, Sept. 1.
For now, the six men will focus on obtaining their legal status.
Because they made it to U.S. soil, the immigrants are allowed to remain in the States where they can apply for citizenship.
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