LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: For many Cubans, including Elian Gonzalez, the journey to the U.S. is a dangerous voyage across the straits of Florida. Well, now the U.S. Coast Guard says the dangers are extending to their officers, as Cuban migrants become more violent in their quest for freedom. CNN's Thomas Nybo with the story.</s>THOMAS NYBO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. policy generally allows any Cuban migrant to stay in the U.S., as long as they set foot on U.S. soil. This group of a dozen migrants knew that when they began the 90-mile journey from Cuba to Florida. The Coast Guard spotted their rickety boat about 50 miles south of Florida, and when it came within 24 miles of Key West, the Coast Guard tried to stop them. But the migrants claimed this was their third attempt to reach the U.S., and nothing would stop them. The Coast Guard tried to distract the Cubans with water hoses so they could entangle the Cuban boat's propeller, but officers were met with a hail of rocks, cans, bolts and scrap metal, which the Coast Guard says, left several officers bruised and scraped. The Cubans finally relented, but only after officers sprayed them with pepper spray. They were returned to Cuba without any further incident. Thomas Nybo, CNN.</s>HARRIS: Some amazing pictures. I'm glad we were able to bring those to you this morning.
Cuban Migrants Becoming More Violent in Their Quest for Freedom