Coast Guard repatriates 51 migrants intercepted near Puerto Rico
A total of 51 migrants of Dominican and Haitian nationalities were returned to the Dominican Republic this Tuesday, after being intercepted by U.S. authorities while navigating irregularly off the coast of Aguadilla, in the northwest region of Puerto Rico.
The interdiction operation was activated after a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) air crew detected the vessel on the high seas. Upon sighting, the Coast Guard deployed a cutter and a helicopter to secure the area and proceed with the intervention of the occupants.
Dangerous conditions on the high seas
The authorities highlighted that the migrants were traveling in a precarious and significantly overloaded vessel. These conditions posed an imminent risk to the safety and physical integrity of everyone on board, who were exposed to mortal danger during the journey.
Breakdown of those affected
The official Coast Guard report detailed the composition of the intercepted group:
- Dominican citizens: 34 people in total, including 30 men, two women, and two minors.
- Haitian citizens: 17 people, composed of 15 men and two women.
After completing the corresponding legal and security procedures, the 51 migrants were transported back to Dominican territory, thus concluding the assistance and repatriation operation led by the United States authorities.
