The United States Coast Guard (USCG) recently repatriated a group of 74 migrants to the Dominican Republic.
The repatriated migrants were part of a group of 105 individuals, consisting of 100 Dominicans, three Haitians and two Cubans, that were interdicted over three separate incidents in the waters between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Twenty-seven migrants of the interdicted group now face potential federal criminal immigration charges in Puerto Rico.
The first interdiction occurred on Jan. 23 as Customs and Border Patrol maritime patrol aircraft detected a 22 foot yola vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico. On board of the vessel were 37 migrants, consisting of 34 Dominicans, one Haitian and two Cubans.
The second incident occurred when a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft detected a 26 foot yoga vessel, which carried 38 Dominicans, on Jan. 21. The vessel was interdicted shortly after disembarking from the Dominican Republic.
The third interdiction occurred on Jan. 20 as a Customs and Border Protection maritime patrol aircraft detected a migrant vessel in between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The boat was intercepted by USCG Cutter Joseph Tezanos and carried 30 migrants on board.
“The journey of illegal migrant voyages crossing the Mona Passage is a treacherous one and at times could be deadly,” USCG Sector San Juan Chief of Law Enforcement Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Douglas, said. “Thanks to the close coordination and swift response from all the partner agencies involved in these interdictions 105 migrants were safely removed from grossly overloaded and unseaworthy vessels.”