San Juan, PR: The US Coast Guard in San Juan reported this Friday that it had repatriated 119 Dominican immigrants in four different operations after intercepting their boats in waters near the island of La Mona, off the west coast of Puerto Rico.
“Embarking on a transit through Mona Island in an overloaded and unsafe vessel is incredibly dangerous,” General Katherine E. Truett, San Juan Sector Police Duty Officer, warned in a statement.
As detailed by the Coast Guard and their colleagues from the Homeland Security Task Force, they will continue to be a presence in the air and waters to detect and deter migrants from trying to enter the United States illegally by sea.
“We urge anyone considering this illegal trip to reconsider as it is not worth their life. We commend our crews and interagency partners for their hard work in ensuring that these migrants returned safely to the Dominican Republic,” Truett added.
According to authorities, once aboard the Coast Guard vessel, all migrants receive food, water, shelter, and primary medical care.
Since October 1, 2022, the Coast Guard has detained 1,620 Dominican immigrants in the waters of Puerto Rico, the majority in the Mona Channel, which is the main migration route between the two islands.
