San Juan, Puerto Rico: On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, the US Coast Guard rescued 96 out of 102 individuals who were in distress in the Mona Passage waters near the west coast of Puerto Rico. They were safely returned to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel. This was a result of three separate rescue operations.
The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser intercepted a temporary vessel and rescued 50 people, consisting of 41 men, eight women, and a male minor, who identified themselves as citizens of the Dominican Republic.
The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos stopped two boats carrying people who were claiming to be the residents of the Dominican Republic.
The second boat was carrying 19 people, with 15 men and four women, while the third boat had 33 people, with 28 men, three women, and two men from Haiti.
Currently, the minor involved in this case is still on the cutter and waiting for transfer coordination with the Children and Adolescents National Council (CONANI) representatives in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, there are five other migrants who are also awaiting further immigration processing.
Captain Jose Diaz, the commander of Sector San Juan, has warned that migrants who were attempting to migrate across the Mona Passage through illegal ways are putting themselves at risk of being prosecuted, deported to their home country, and disqualified from legally entering the United States in the future.
He advises to stop taking part in such illegal journeys as they are highly dangerous and can put the lives of the migrants and their loved ones in danger.
During the period of October 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, the Coast Guard intercepted 31 illegal voyages in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico. During this period, a total of 992 non-U.S. citizens were apprehended, including 758 Dominicans, 211 Haitians, 13 Venezuelans, 7 Kazakhs, 1 Albanian, and another individual with an unknown nationality.
