SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez repatriated 58 migrants to the Dominican Republic, Saturday, following the interdiction of an irregular, unlawful migration voyage in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico, Thursday evening.
The migrants were transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
The Coast Guard Cutter Reliance located and interdicted a grossly overloaded 35-foot makeshift vessel in international waters, approximately 50 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The cutter Reliance crew launched their over-the-horizon small boat, which came alongside the migrant vessel, where the crew provided life jackets to the migrants, before transferring them to the safety of the cutter.
“Fortunately, all of the migrants aboard this grossly overloaded vessel were rescued in this case,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Sector San Juan chief of response. “The migrants claimed to have been at-sea for four days aboard an unseaworthy vessel with no lifesaving equipment onboard, a very highly dangerous situation that could have led to a most tragic outcome. We urge those thinking of taking part in one of these voyages to not take to the sea at risk to your life, and instead seek safe, orderly and lawful migration pathways.”
The migrants were later transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez crew to complete their repatriation.
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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