Coast Guard rescues 19 Haitians left stranded by smugglers on Monito Island, Puerto Rico

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 rescues 19 Haitians left stranded by smugglers on Monito Island, Puerto Rico

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier rescued 19 Haitians Sunday, who were left abandoned by smugglers on the uninhabited natural reserve of Monito Island, Puerto Rico.

The rescue was part of ongoing multi-agency efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG).

Coast Guard watch standers in San Juan, Puerto Rico received a communication from the cutter Joseph Napier Thursday afternoon reporting 19 migrants stranded on the rocky cliffs of Monito Island located just off Mona Island, Puerto Rico.  Heavy sea-state conditions delayed rescue efforts until Sunday when conditions improved and allowed the cutter Joseph Napier’s Over the Horizon boat to approach Monito Island. Once the cutter small boat was in position, each person on the cliff dawned a lifejacket and took their turn jumping into the water from where they were safely recovered by the small boat crew.

“The small boat crew’s thorough assessment of the situation and their actions led to the safe rescue of all 19 survivors.” said Lt. Devonte Weems, Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier commanding officer. “People are risking their lives and the lives of their loved ones at sea without realizing how dangerous these voyages can be.” 

Once onboard cutter Joseph Napier, the group was provided food, water, and basic medical care. The survivors, 10 men and nine women, were transferred to Ramey Sector U.S Border Patrol agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Since Oct. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, the Coast Guard has carried out 14 illegal voyage interdictions in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico.  Interdicted during this period, are 419 non-U.S. citizens including 327 Dominicans, 91 Haitians and 01 of unknown nationality.

Cutter Joseph Napier is a Coast Guard 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

CBIG 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, in their common goal of securing the borders of Puerto Rico against illegal migrant and drug smuggling.

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-USCG-