U.S. Coast Guard intercepts 51 migrants in 'makeshift' boat near Puerto Rico

On a treacherous journey to the U.S., the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted dozens of migrants on Tuesday who were crammed inside a "makeshift" boat near Puerto Rico. The 30-foot-long, white-colored vessel, with "J5" painted across its side, was picked up about 27 nautical miles southwest of Puerto Rico’s Mona Island with 51 desperate migrants and a suspected smuggler inside.

Migrants' Nationalities and Legal Actions

The 51 migrants are from the Dominican Republic, while the suspected smuggler, who the Coast Guard also described as being a migrant, is from Haiti. The Dominican migrants were sent back to their home country by way of a Dominican Republic Navy vessel while the Haitian is in U.S. custody and is facing federal prosecution under unauthorized alien smuggling laws.

Coast Guard’s Response and Warnings

Members aboard a Coast Guard plane spotted the "makeshift vessel taking part in an unlawful maritime migration voyage" on Saturday night. The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Joseph Tezanos then responded to interdict the suspect vessel. Lt. Cmdr. Edward Kunigonis, chief of enforcement of the San Juan sector, emphasized the swift response and professionalism of the Coast Guard units and urged individuals not to take part in unlawful maritime migration voyages due to the safety threats they pose to migrants.

Prohibition and Repatriation Measures

Migrants who are interdicted at sea or apprehended ashore will not be allowed to stay in the U.S. or any of its territories. The Coast Guard emphasized that anyone arriving unlawfully may be declared ineligible for legal immigration parole options and be repatriated to their country of origin or returned to the country from where the voyage departed from. Additionally, the Homeland Security Task Force guards air, land and sea assets in various regions mentioned.

Statistical Data and Past Incidents

Since October 1 through April 30, the Coast Guard has intercepted 35 different groups of migrants in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico. The groups consisted of 1,199 non-U.S. citizens, 1,141 of which were from the Dominican Republic, 57 from Haiti, and one from Venezuela. Past incidents include a Carnival cruise ship rescuing 27 Cuban nationals found adrift and signaling for help roughly 20 miles west of Cuba, and the law enforcement apprehension of two dozen illegal migrants off the coast of Florida in a large fishing boat..