Coast Guard crews returned 96 of 102 people to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel Tuesday, following three separate interdictions in Mona Passage waters off the west coast of Puerto Rico.
The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser interdicted one makeshift vessel and embarked 50 persons, including 41 men, eight women, and a male minor, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.
The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos interdicted a second vessel with 19 people onboard, 15 men and four women, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.
Cutter Joseph Tezanos also interdicted the third migrant vessel with 33 people onboard, 28 men and three women, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals, and two Haitian men.
The minor in this case remains aboard the cutter pending transfer coordination with Children and Adolescents National Council (CONANI) representatives in the Dominican Republic, as well as five other migrants, who are pending further immigration processing.
“Migrants seeking unlawful pathways to migrate across the Mona Passage are risking prosecution, repatriation to their country of origin, and being disqualified from legal entry to the United States in the future,” said Capt. José Díaz, Sector San Juan commander.
“We urge anyone thinking of taking part in an illegal voyage to not take to the sea, these voyages are highly dangerous. Don’t place your life or the life of your loved ones at risk.”
Since Oct. 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023, the Coast Guard has carried out 31 illegal voyage interdictions in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico.
Interdicted during this period, are 992 non-U.S. citizens including 758 Dominicans, 211 Haitians, 13 Venezuelans, seven Kazakhs, one Albanian and one other unknown nationality.
SOURCE: United States Coast Guard
