Coast Guard returns 63 migrants intercepted in Mona Passage
Three of the 66 people aboard the overloaded vessel remain in federal custody facing possible charges for illegal re-entry to the United States.
PhotoThe short version
- NotiCel reports the Coast Guard detected a 30-foot overcrowded makeshift vessel 70 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla on Friday afternoon
- Diario Libre reports 59 people claimed to be from the Dominican Republic and seven from Haiti
- The Coast Guard repatriated 63 migrants to two Dominican Navy vessels on Saturday via the cutter Winslow Griesser
- Three migrants remain in federal custody for additional investigation and possible illegal re-entry charges
Interception and repatriation
The U.S. Coast Guard detected an overcrowded 30-foot makeshift vessel on Friday afternoon during a routine patrol by an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft about 70 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. NotiCel reported. The cutter Winslow Griesser and an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen were diverted to intercept the vessel in the Mona Passage.
According to both outlets, the vessel carried 55 men and four women who claimed to be citizens of the Dominican Republic, plus six men and one woman who claimed to be citizens of Haiti. On Saturday the Coast Guard repatriated 63 of the 66 migrants to two vessels of the Dominican Republic Navy. Diario Libre reported.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Estas travesías son extremadamente peligrosas y cualquier persona que participe en operaciones ilegales de tráfico de migrantes puede enfrentar procesamiento judicial y penas de prisión
The source's own statement, as quoted by NotiCel. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Federal custody
NotiCel and Diario Libre both state that three of the intercepted migrants remain under federal custody facing further investigation and possible charges for attempted illegal re-entry to the United States. The Coast Guard has not released the nationalities of the three individuals.
Lt. Alex Kearney, commander of the cutter Winslow Griesser, said in a written statement that the operation saved 66 people from a dangerously overloaded vessel attempting to cross a vast expanse of ocean with little or no safety equipment.
Where the sources differ
NotiCel and Diario Libre agree on the total of 66 migrants intercepted, the vessel size and location, the numbers repatriated on Saturday, and that three remain in federal custody. Both name the cutter Winslow Griesser and report the same breakdown of claimed nationalities. NotiCel provides more operational detail including the aircraft and helicopter involved and includes a direct quote from Lt. Alex Kearney. Diario Libre adds context about a separate September incident near Mona Island in which a vessel capsized.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not identify the three migrants who remain in federal custody or specify their nationalities. They do not state what prompted the three to be singled out for possible illegal re-entry charges or whether any smuggling organizers were identified among those repatriated. No information is given on the current status of the federal investigation or potential court dates.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Guardia Costera devuelve a 63 migrantes interceptados en el Pasaje de la Mona
- Reporting Guardia Costera devuelve a 63 migrantes interceptados en el Pasaje de la Mona
- Reporting Repatrian a 63 migrantes a República Dominicana tras ser detenidos en aguas de Puerto Rico
How we checked this
Both NotiCel and Diario Libre reported the interception, repatriation numbers and custody details based on the same Coast Guard release. The direct quote from Lt. Alex Kearney appears only in NotiCel. Background on a prior September capsizing is reported solely by Diario Libre.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.