SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter returned 12 migrants to the Dominican Republic between Thursday and Friday, following the interdiction of an irregular, unlawful migration voyage vessel near Puerto Rico.
The cutter Paul Clark crew returned 10 of the migrants to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel, Thursday, while the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crew repatriated the two remaining migrants from the group to Punta Juanillo, Dominican Republic, Friday afternoon.
The interdiction occurred Wednesday night, after the crew of a Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft sighted a grossly overloaded makeshift vessel, approximately 62 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The cutter Paul Clark arrived on-scene and launched the cutter’s over-the-horizon small boat crew which successfully stopped the suspect vessel. The cutter crew and embarked all 12 migrants consisting of eight men, two women and two unaccompanied minors, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.
“The collective resolve and steadfast dedication of our Coast Guard and partner agencies is key to stopping these unlawful and dangerous ventures is unwavering,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Coast Guard Sector San Juan chief of response. “These voyages are extremely unsafe, most often occurring aboard makeshift and unseaworthy vessels that take on water and have no lifesaving equipment onboard. By taking to the sea in one of these voyages you will be putting your life and the lives of others at risk. Instead, seek safe and lawful migration pathways.”
Migrants who are interdicted at sea or apprehended ashore will not be allowed to stay in the United States or a U.S. territory. Furthermore, anyone who arrives unlawfully may be declared ineligible for legal immigration parole options and be repatriated to their country of origin or returned to the country of departure.
The Coast Guard, along with its Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast partners, maintains a continual presence with air, land, and sea assets in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage, and the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry. The HSTF-SE combined, multi-layered approach is designed to protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories.
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