Coast Guard returns 24 migrants to the Dominican Republic following at-sea interdiction off Punta Cana

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Contact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA Office Office: 787-729-2381 After Hours: 787-510-7923 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands online newsroom

Coast Guard returns 24 migrants to the Dominican Republic following at-sea interdiction

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser (WPC-1116) returned 24 migrants to authorities in Santo Domingo Tuesday following the at-sea interdiction of a migrant vessel Thursday in waters, approximately 22 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The interdiction is the result of ongoing efforts in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG). 

“The excellent coordination between three Coast Guard cutters and Coast Guard Sector San Juan ensured the safe return of all 24 persons to the Dominican Republic, and serves as a constant reminder of the inherent dangers associated with taking to the sea in such overloaded and unseaworthy vessels,” said Lt. Luke A. Walsh, USCGC Winslow Griesser commanding officer.

During a routine patrol of the Mona Passage Thursday afternoon, the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft detected a grossly overloaded 20-foot migrant boat in international waters traveling illegally towards Puerto Rico.  Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC-910) to interdict the vessel.  Shortly thereafter, the Thetis arrived on scene with the migrant vessel that was disabled and taking on water. The Thetis crew safely embarked all 24 migrants, a Haitian man and 23 Dominicans, including an adult woman and two male minors.

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

The migrants were subsequently transferred from the Thetis to the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier (WPC-1115) and lastly to the Winslow Griesser for their final transport to the Dominican Republic. 

The Thetis is a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter homeported in Key West, Fla., while the Joseph Napier and Winslow Griesser are a 154-foot fast response cutters homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard's efforts under Operation Unified Resolve contribute to the interagency results being achieved each and every day locally under Operation Caribbean Guard, which coordinates efforts between the Coast Guard, its DHS, Commonwealth and Territorial law enforcement partners, who are working diligently to deter, detect and disrupt illicit maritime trafficking to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Caribbean Border Interagency Group was formally created to unify efforts of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Attorney‘s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA, for its Spanish acronym), in their common goal of securing the borders of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal migrant and drug smuggling.

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