The surge in migrants crossing the southern border from Mexico into the U.S. has garnered a lot of attention, but the U.S. Coast Guard says the number trying to enter illegally by sea is increasing as well. 

In the last three months, the Coast Guard picked up nearly 5,000 Cubans trying to enter the U.S. illegally by sea. That's close to the nearly 6,200 migrants encountered in the previous 12 months.

What You Need To Know

  • In the last three months, the U.S. Coast Guard picked up nearly 5,000 Cubans trying to enter the country illegally by sea

  • That's close to the nearly 6,200 Cuban migrants encountered in the previous 12 months

  • A new program announced by President Joe Biden two weeks ago seeks to bring more order to the southern border; immigration attorneys expect a large number of applicants to apply for it

  • Information about the new asylum program can be found here

The influx of migrants from Cuba prompted the closure of Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys earlier this month. The South Florida park reopened about a week later.

Immigration attorney Leon Fresco told Spectrum News that he heard from clients the situation in Cuba is "very desperate."

"Everybody's trying to leave," Fresco said. "The question is, how many people are leaving really because they're actually fleeing political oppression, as opposed to fleeing economic insecurity?"

"That's an issue that's sort of hard for the government to vet," Fresco continued. "Which is why they sort of thrown everybody into this new bucket up, trying to get people to apply for legal entrance through a parole program, rather than trying to have people flooding into the asylum system."

A new program announced by President Joe Biden two weeks ago will allow 30,000 migrants each month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti combined, but will expel all others who try to cross illegally.

Fresco told Spectrum News that his clients are already expressing interest. 

"The four countries announced, but also from Cuba specifically, we're seeing a number of Americans want to sponsor relatives in Cuba, also in Nicaragua and Venezuela and in Haiti," Fresco said. "The demand is so robust."

Some immigration advocates and attorneys say there is confusion by some about the new Biden policy.

"One of the most important aspects of this program is that anyone who has tried to illegally cross into the United States, or has illegally crossed the Mexican or Panamanian border after Jan. 6, is not going to be eligible for this program, " said Nicholas Sanchez, Managing Partner at Estrella Immigration. "But I've had discussions with people whose family entered Mexico after Jan. 6 and the reason they entered is because they heard of this new program."

Fresco said whether the program is successful in preventing migrants from entering the country through illegal means will depend on a variety of factors.

"If these slots run out very quickly, then people will continue engaging in the behavior that the Biden administration is trying to stop, which is to come through the ports of entry, because they don't have still that legal pathway available to them," Fresco told Spectrum News.

For those looking to help loved ones in one of the four countries gain acceptance into the program, Fresco recommends applying as soon as possible. Information about the new program can be found here.