US Coast Guard repatriates 63 migrants to Dominican Republic after sea interception
Key Points(5)
- The US Coast Guard has repatriated 63 migrants to the Dominican Republic after intercepting an overloaded vessel carrying 66 people in the Mona Passage near Puerto Rico.
- The migrants were transferred Saturday to two Dominican Republic Navy vessels following the interception on Friday, according to the Coast Guard.
- Three of those intercepted remain in federal custody and face further investigation and potential charges for attempting to illegally reenter the United States.
- The operation began Friday afternoon when the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft detected a 30-foot makeshift vessel approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
- The vessel was described as severely overloaded, prompting Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan to divert the cutter Winslow Griesser to the area.
The US Coast Guard has repatriated 63 migrants to the Dominican Republic after intercepting an overloaded vessel carrying 66 people in the Mona Passage near Puerto Rico.
The migrants were transferred Saturday to two Dominican Republic Navy vessels following the interception on Friday, according to the Coast Guard.
Three of those intercepted remain in federal custody and face further investigation and potential charges for attempting to illegally reenter the United States.
The operation began Friday afternoon when the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft detected a 30-foot makeshift vessel approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
The vessel was described as severely overloaded, prompting Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan to divert the cutter Winslow Griesser to the area. An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Borinquen was also deployed to provide aerial support during the rescue.
Citing concerns for the safety of those aboard, the cutter's crew brought all 66 migrants onto the vessel.
The group included 59 people who identified themselves as Dominican Republic nationals — 55 men and four women — and seven who identified themselves as Haitian nationals, comprising six men and one woman.
“I’m proud of my crew and the Coast Guard aircrews for stopping what could have been a treacherous journey for all onboard an overloaded migrant vessel Friday night,” said Lt. Alex Kearney, commanding officer of the Winslow Griesser.
He said the operation prevented 66 people from continuing a dangerous journey across open water in a vessel with little to no safety equipment.
Kearney warned that people involved in illegal migrant smuggling operations could face prosecution and imprisonment.
Following the interception, the Winslow Griesser met with Dominican Republic Navy vessels Bellatrix and Acrux in the Mona Passage and transferred the 63 migrants for repatriation.
The Coast Guard said migrants intercepted at sea or apprehended after arriving ashore would not be permitted to remain in the United States or its territories. Those who enter unlawfully could face repatriation to their country of origin or return to their point of departure, and may be ineligible for certain legal immigration parole options.
Regional maritime patrols
The operation forms part of ongoing US Coast Guard efforts to prevent unauthorized maritime migration across the Caribbean, including the Florida Straits, Windward Passage and Mona Passage.
The Coast Guard works alongside partners under Operation Vigilant Sentry and Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, using air, land and sea assets to conduct patrols and respond to suspected unlawful maritime crossings.
The interception was also conducted under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, established by US Executive Order 14159, which coordinates federal agencies in efforts to investigate and prosecute criminal organizations involved in activities including human smuggling and trafficking.
The San Juan task force includes the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations division, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Coast Guard and other federal law enforcement agencies.
