Coast Guard repatriates 18 migrants to the Dominican Republic, following at-sea interdiction just off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/12/2019 10:15 AM EDT

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Coast Guard repatriates 18 migrants to the Dominican Republic, following
at-sea interdiction just off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Six other migrants interdicted in the group are facing possible federal prosecution in Puerto Rico

The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser (WPC-1116) rendezvous with a D.R. Navy patrol boat June 10, 2019 just off Samaná, Dominican Republic. The cutter Griesser repatriated 18 Dominican migrants, from a group of 24, who were interdicted June 10, 2019 just off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Six other migrants interdicted in the group remain in federal custody in Puerto Rico awaiting prosecution for attempting to reenter illegally reenter into a U.S. Territory. The interdiction is the result of ongoing Coast Guard and interagency efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser (WPC-1116) rendezvous with a D.R. Navy patrol boat June 10, 2019 just off Samaná, Dominican Republic. The Griesser repatriated 18 Dominican migrants to the Dominican Navy following the interdiction of a migrant vessel jjust off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on June 10, 2019. Six other migrants, who were also interdicted in the group, remain in federal custody in Puerto Rico awaiting prosecution for attempting to reenter illegally reenter into a U.S. Territory. The interdiction is the result of ongoing Coast Guard and interagency efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group. (U.S. Coast Guasrd photo)

The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser (WPC-1116) rendezvous with a D.R. Navy patrol boat June 10, 2019 just off Samaná, Dominican Republic. The Griesser repatriated 18 Dominican migrants to the Dominican Navy following the interdiction of a migrant vessel just off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on June 10, 2019. Six other migrants, who were also interdicted in the group, remain in federal custody in Puerto Rico awaiting prosecution for attempting to reenter illegally reenter into a U.S. Territory. The interdiction is the result of ongoing Coast Guard and interagency efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser (WPC-1116) repatriated 18 Dominican migrants to a Dominican Navy patrol vessel Tuesday morning near Samana, Dominican Republic, following the interdiction of an illegal migrant voyage Monday just off the coast of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. 

Six other Dominican migrants traveling in the group remain in federal custody facing possible prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico on potential charges of attempted illegal reentry into a U.S. territory.

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

“I’m glad that our crew was able to safely recover all the migrants and provide them with the humanitarian assistance they required,” said Lt. Luke A. Walsh, USCGC Winlow Griesser commanding officer.  “This group is very fortunate, the dangers in the Mona Passage are quite real, as migrants risk losing their lives at the hands of ruthless smugglers whose vessels are ill equipped with little or no emergency and lifesaving equipment onboard.”

A team of Ramey Sector Border Patrol agents detected the 20-foot migrant vessel, transiting without navigational lights, approximately a mile and a half off the coast of Aguadilla.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted cutter Winslow Griesser to interdict the suspect vessel. As the cutter Winslow Griesser arrived on scene, a responding Puerto Rico PoliceJoint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit stopped the migrant vessel. The Winslow Griessercrew embarked from the makeshift vessel all 24 migrants, 23 men and a woman, who claimed Dominican nationality.

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

The cutter Winslow Griesser transferred custody of the six migrants facing federal prosecution to Ramey Sector Border Patrol agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

The Caribbean Border Interagency Group unifies efforts between 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. These agencies share a common goal of securing the maritime border of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal migrant and drug smuggling threats.

The cutter Winslow Griesser is a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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