US Coast Guard intercepts dozens of migrants, ships them back

Coast Guard cutters intercepted dozens of migrants connected nan precocious seas arsenic they tried to scope US ungraded — and shipped them to nan Dominican Republic aliases turned them complete to US Border Patrol, officials said.

The migrants were trim disconnected successful 3 abstracted operations complete nan past week disconnected nan waters of Puerto Rico and repatriated them complete nan past fewer days, nan agency said successful a property merchandise Tuesday.

“The regular activity accomplished by our watchstanders and responding Coast Guard and partner agency units is instrumental to stopping unlawful migration voyages astatine oversea and removing migrants from a very vulnerable environment,” Coast Guard Commander Matthew Roman said successful a statement.

Coast Guard crews chased down 3 abstracted boats loaded pinch migrants complete nan past week and sent them home. United States Coast Guard

The Coast Guard said astir of nan migrants were sent location to nan Dominican Republic, but a fistful were turned complete to nan US Border Patrol United States Coast Guard

“We impulse anyone reasoning of taking portion successful 1 of these voyages to not entrust your lives to quality smugglers,” Roman said. “Don’t return to nan sea, these voyages are extremely dangerous and astir often return spot aboard grossly overloaded and unseaworthy vessels that are taking connected h2o and have no unrecorded redeeming equipment. Instead activity safe, orderly and lawful migration pathways.”  

In nan astir caller interception, a Coast Guard aerial unit retired of Miami spotted a migrant vessel disconnected nan seashore of Mona Island successful Puerto Rico connected Saturday and dispatched nan Cutter Paul Clark.

The cutter unit took 27 migrants — 22 men and 5 women from Haiti and nan Dominican Republic.

Friday morning, a 25-foot migrant alloy was spotted southbound of Mona Island and intercepted by nan aforesaid cutter, pinch 17 men and six women who claimed to beryllium Dominican Republic nationals.

Four of those were taken into custody and were transferred to nan US Border Patrol for prosecution but specifications of that lawsuit were not instantly available.

In nan first cognition connected Oct. 23, nan Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier stopped a 26-foot “makeshift vessel’ northbound of Aguadillo, Puerto Rico, and nabbed 7 Dominican natives.

One of nan migrants was turned complete to US Border Patrol nan pursuing day, nan merchandise said.