SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle repatriated 75 migrants to Dominican Republic, Friday, following the interdiction of a makeshift vessel in Mona Passage waters off Puerto Rico, Wednesday.
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.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders received a report from the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection multirole enforcement aircraft of a grossly overloaded 32-foot makeshift vessel northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle to interdict the suspect vessel and directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen to provide search and rescue support on scene.
Shortly after, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle intercepted the vessel and safely embarked 77 migrants, including 73 Dominican nationals, 65 men and eight women, and four Haitian men.
"Thanks to the teamwork of the Coast Guard and partner agencies, 77 people were rescued from a grossly overloaded makeshift boat,” said Cmdr. Matthew Pinhey, Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle commanding officer. “Without this swift response, the unstable and unseaworthy vessel could have easily capsized and ended in tragedy."
“To anyone considering an unlawful maritime voyage; do not take to the sea!” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, 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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With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard defends the Nation, protects the marine transportation system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads the Nation in maritime drug interdiction and secures the maritime border. As a member of the joint force, a law enforcement organization, a regulatory agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community, the Coast Guard employs a unique mix of authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the maritime domain to protect the economic and national security of the nation. More than 76,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of more than 220 cutters, 185 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,300 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
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