Coast Guard repatriates 11 migrants to the Dominican Republic, following at-sea interdiction in the Mona Passage

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/19/2019 03:41 PM EDT

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Coast Guard repatriates 11 migrants to the Dominican Republic, following at-sea interdiction near Mona Island, Puerto Rico

The Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley (WPC-1117) repatriated 11 Dominican migrants to a Dominican Navy vessel June 19, 2019 in waters just off Samana, Dominican Republic. The repatriation followed cutter Horsley's interdiction of the migrants aboard a 20-foot makeshift boat June 17, 2019, approximately 20 nautical miles north 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). Since October 2018, the Coast Guard and CBIG partner federal and state agencies have interdicted at sea over 1,523 migrants near Puerto Rico and the U.S. Islands. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley (WPC-1117) repatriated 11 Dominican migrants to a Dominican Navy vessel June 19, 2019 in waters just off Samana, Dominican Republic. The repatriation followed cutter Horsley's interdiction of the migrants aboard a 20-foot makeshift boat June 17, 2019, approximately 20 nautical miles north 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). Since October 2018, the Coast Guard and CBIG partner federal and state agencies have interdicted at sea over 1,523 migrants near Puerto Rico and the U.S. Islands. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley (WPC-1117) repatriated 11 Dominican migrants to a Dominican Navy vessel June 19, 2019 in waters just off Samana, Dominican Republic. The repatriation followed cutter Horsley's interdiction of the migrants aboard a 20-foot makeshift boat June 17, 2019, approximately 20 nautical miles north 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). Since October 2018, the Coast Guard and CBIG partner federal and state agencies have interdicted at sea over 1,523 migrants near Puerto Rico and the U.S. Islands.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley (WPC-1117) repatriated 11 Dominican migrants to a Dominican Navy patrol vessel Wednesday afternoon in waters just off Samana, Dominican Republic, following the interdiction of an illegal migrant voyage in the Mona Passage. 

The interdiction is the result of ongoing efforts in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG).  Since October 2018, the Coast Guard and CBIG partner federal and state agencies have interdicted over 1,523 migrants at sea near Puerto Rico and the U.S. Islands.

During a routine patrol Monday afternoon, the crew of patrolling Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft detected a 20-foot fiberglass migrant boat transiting towards Puerto Rico, approximately 20 nautical miles north northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the cutter Donald Horsley to interdict the suspect vessel. Upon arriving on scene, the Donald Horsley crew stopped the blue and white makeshift boat with 11 migrants onboard, 9 men and 2 women, who claimed Dominican nationality. Horsley crewmembers proceeded to embark all the migrants from the makeshift boat that was taking on water and in danger of sinking.

“I am proud of my crew for saving 11 people from a small, grossly overloaded boat traveling in very dangerous sea conditions,” said Lt. Christopher Martin, Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley. “Crossing the Mona Passage is an extremely dangerous journey, especially in the case of illegal voyages, in which migrants risk their lives by trusting smugglers who transport them in inhumane conditions on boats that are not safe to navigate and do not have any safety equipment on board.”

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

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 Donald Horsley is a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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