The U.S. Coast Guard recently intercepted a makeshift boat near Puerto Rico carrying 51 migrants from the Dominican Republic and a suspected smuggler from Haiti. The vessel, which was white and 30-feet long with “J5” painted on its side, was spotted by a Coast Guard plane about 27 nautical miles southwest of Puerto Rico’s Mona Island. The migrants from the Dominican Republic were returned to their home country by a Dominican Navy vessel, while the suspected smuggler from Haiti is in U.S. custody and is facing federal prosecution under unauthorized alien smuggling laws. The Coast Guard has warned against unlawful maritime migration voyages, emphasizing the dangers and urging migrants to use lawful pathways.
Members of the Coast Guard responded to the vessel on a Coast Guard cutter called the Joseph Tezanos after it was spotted by the HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft. Lt. Cmdr. Edward Kunigonis, chief of enforcement of the San Juan sector, praised the swift response and professionalism of the Coast Guard units and watchstanders involved in the successful interdiction. The Coast Guard did not provide details about the age or sexes of the migrants on board the vessel, but reiterated that migrants who are interdicted at sea or apprehended ashore will not be allowed to stay in the U.S. or any of its territories. Instead, they may be repatriated to their country of origin or the country from where the voyage departed from.
The Coast Guard and the Homeland Security Task Force work together to guard air, land, and sea assets in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage, and the Caribbean Sea to intercept and deter unlawful maritime migration voyages. Since October 1 through April 30, the Coast Guard has intercepted 35 different groups of migrants in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico, totaling 1,199 non-U.S. citizens. The majority of these migrants were from the Dominican Republic, with smaller numbers from Haiti and Venezuela. This effort to intercept and repatriate migrants is part of a larger strategy to discourage illegal immigration via sea routes.
In a related incident, last month a Carnival cruise ship rescued 27 Cuban nationals who were adrift and signaling for help near Cuba. In March, law enforcement apprehended two dozen illegal migrants, including women and children, off the coast of Florida in a large fishing boat. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in intercepting and repatriating illegal migrants attempting to enter the U.S. via sea routes. The Coast Guard’s continued efforts to safeguard maritime borders and deter unlawful migration voyages are crucial in maintaining border security and ensuring the safety and well-being of migrants traveling through dangerous waters.
