NATION IN BRIEF : FLORIDA : U.S. Changes Policy on Rescuing Haitians

In a policy change, the U.S. Coast Guard has announced that its ships will pick up only those Haitian boat people deemed to be in emergency situations, a move intended to help relieve the overcrowded refugee camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The announcement came in Miami after officials declared the camp at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay to be at capacity. About 12,500 Haitian migrants are at the camp. A spokesman said the new policy is a temporary measure to cope with Haitians who have boarded small, flimsy boats to escape their politically unstable country.