SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard repatriated 17 migrants to the Dominican Republic, Saturday, following the interdiction of an irregular, unlawful maritime migration voyage in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico.
One of the interdicted migrants remains in U.S. custody to face federal prosecution by the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico attempting to illegally re-enter the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1326.
The interdiction occurred the night of Nov. 5, 2024, after the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft sighted a grossly overloaded 40-foot makeshift vessel transiting southwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez to carry out the interdiction. Once on scene, the cutter Heriberto Hernandez crew deployed the cutter’s Over the Horizon boat which stopped the compliant vessel and embarked the migrants, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals. The repatriated migrants were transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities. The migrant awaiting prosecution was transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Thursday.
“I am incredibly proud of our team alongside Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen and our Caribbean Border Interagency Group partners,” said Lt. Alexander Rodgers, Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez commanding officer. “This case was a prime example of how interagency teamwork is key in preventing loss of life at-sea during these high-risk unlawful migration ventures in the Mona Passage. We urge anyone thinking of taking part in one of these voyages to not put their life at risk by taking to the sea and instead seek safe, orderly 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.
HSTF-SE performs OVS migrant interdiction mission in the Caribbean Basin
HSTF-SE OVS maritime migration interdiction and repatriation b-roll video
HSTF-SE OVS maritime migration detection and interdiction b-roll video
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