US Coast Guard repatriates 2 Dominicans and 39 Haitians
The US Coast Guard repatriated two Dominicans and returned 39 Haitians to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, following the interdiction of an illegal voyage in the Mona Passage waters near Rincon, Puerto Rico.
During a routine patrol Tuesday, the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection Marine Enforcement Aircraft detected an illegal voyage approximately ten nautical miles southeast of Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Following the sighting, the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon interdicted the 30-foot makeshift boat. The crew of the cutter Richard Dixon safely embarked all the passengers after they were observed bailing water to keep the vessel from capsizing.
Richard Dixon's cutter repatriated 27 men and 14 Haitian women from this group to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel Wednesday morning.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and essential medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimise potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19.
One other Dominican Republic national from this group remains in Puerto Rico to face federal prosecution on charges of attempted illegal reentry into the United States. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico leads the trial in this case.
The interdiction results from ongoing local and federal multi-agency efforts supporting the Caribbean Border Interagency Group CBIG.
From October 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022, the Coast Guard and CBIG partner agencies have carried out 45 illegal voyage interdictions in Mona Passage and Caribbean waters near Puerto Rico.
Interdicted during this period were 1,088 non-US citizens comprised mainly of Dominican Republic and Haitian nationals (798 Dominicans, 253 Haitians, 1 Ecuadorian, 36 Venezuelans).
0 Comment