Miami ? Nineteen Haitian migrants who were detained at sea last week will be returned today to Haiti, according to U.S. embassy officials in Port-au-Prince news that dismayed Haitian-Americans and immigrant advocates as local protests against the migrants’ treatment gained momentum.

The 19 Haitians have been held on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter since they were taken from the water on Oct. 29 near the Rickenbacker Causeway, where more than 200 other Haitians climbed ashore.

The return of the 19 follows normal U.S. policy of repatriating migrants who are intercepted before they reach the shore.