SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos repatriated 16 aliens to Dominican Republic, Thursday, following the interdiction of a makeshift vessel in Mona Passage waters off Puerto Rico, Monday.
This interdiction is part of the efforts of the Homeland Security Task Force – San Juan Region to combat human smuggling and deter unlawful maritime migration.
Sector San Juan watchstanders received a report from the aircrew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry of a grossly overloaded 22-foot makeshift vessel off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. A Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft joined the response and maintained aerial surveillance on scene as cutter Richard Dixon interdicted the suspect vessel.
Following the interdiction, the crew safely embarked 19 people, 14 men, three women and two minors, who claimed being Dominican Republic nationals. The migrant group was transferred to cutter Joseph Tezanos for their repatriation. Fourteen of the migrants were repatriated at sea to Dominican Republic Navy vessel Bellatrix, while the two minors were transferred shoreside to National Council for Children and Adolescents CONANI representatives.
"This is a win for our joint operations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael D. Torgesen, Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon commanding officer. “Customs and Border Protection and Coast Guard air assets once again precisely guided the crew of the cutter Richard Dixon on scene, allowing us to stop this overloaded, unseaworthy vessel and successfully ensure safety at sea and maritime security."
“To anyone considering an unlawful maritime voyage; do not take to the sea!” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Coast Guard Sector San Juan chief of response. “These trips are extremely dangerous, typically relying on unseaworthy, heavily overloaded vessels without any lifesaving equipment. Furthermore, anyone caught participating faces potential prosecution or immediate repatriation to their country of origin or departure.”
This interdiction is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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