SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 25, CMC – The United States Coast Guard says it repatriated 63 Haitian and Dominican Republic migrants following the interception of an overcrowded vessel in the Mona Passage near Puerto Rico.
The migrants were transferred on Saturday to two Dominican Republic Navy vessels, while three others remain in federal custody pending investigations into possible illegal re-entry offences.
The interception occurred Friday after a Coast Guard aircraft spotted a 30-foot makeshift vessel carrying 66 people approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Authorities dispatched the cutter Winslow Griesser, supported by a Coast Guard helicopter, to intercept the vessel and provide rescue assistance.
The migrants, comprising 59 Dominican Republic nationals and seven Haitians, were safely removed from the overcrowded vessel.
“I’m proud of my crew and the Coast Guard aircrews for stopping what could have been a treacherous journey for all onboard an overloaded migrant vessel Friday night,” said Lieutenant Alex Kearney, commanding officer of the Winslow Griesser.
He warned that such voyages posed serious risks to human life, particularly when undertaken in vessels lacking adequate safety equipment.
“These voyages are extremely dangerous, and anyone conducting illegal smuggling migrant ventures may be subject to prosecution and imprisonment,” Kearney added.
Following the interception, the cutter transferred 63 migrants to Dominican Republic Navy vessels Bellatrix and Acrux in the Mona Passage.
The Coast Guard reiterated that migrants intercepted at sea or apprehended after entering US territory unlawfully could face repatriation and restrictions on future immigration options.
It said maritime patrols would continue in the Caribbean Sea, Mona Passage, Windward Passage and Florida Straits under Operation Vigilant Sentry and other regional security initiatives aimed at preventing unlawful migration and protecting lives at sea.
CMC/nk/kb/2026