JANUARY 7, 2025 – The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos repatriated 39 people to the Dominican Republic, Sunday, following an interdiction of an unlawful maritime migration attempt approximately 41 miles southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
Three of the interdicted migrants remain in U.S. custody to face possible federal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for attempting to illegally re-enter the United States in violation of Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1326.
A Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Branch aircrew detected the 25-foot makeshift vessel, Thursday, before notifying Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders.
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez to carry out the interdiction.
Once on scene, the cutter Heriberto Hernandez crew deployed the cutter’s Over the Horizon boat which stopped the compliant vessel and embarked the migrants.
The repatriated migrants were later transferred to Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos before being transferred to Dominican Republic Navy authorities.
The migrants awaiting possible prosecution were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol Ramey Sector custody in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Saturday.
“The Coast Guard and our partners in Customs and Border Protection will continue to rigorously patrol the Mona Passage to detect and deter irregular, unlawful migration and save lives,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Sector San Juan chief of response. “Repeated attempts to make this unlawful journey will subject individuals to possible criminal prosecution in addition to disqualification from legal immigration pathways.”
The Coast Guard, along with its Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast partners, maintains a continual presence with air, land, and sea assets in the Florida Straits, the Windward Passage, the Mona Passage, and the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry.
The HSTF-SE combined, multi-layered approach is designed to protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories.
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Coast Guard Seventh District – 305-415-6683