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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

75 migrants repatriated to the Dominican Republic after interception off Puerto Rico

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Outcome reported
  • U.S. authorities repatriated 75 migrants to the Dominican Republic after intercepting an improvised boat in the Mona Passage off western Puerto Rico.
  • The Coast Guard rescued 77 people, including 73 Dominicans and four Haitians, from an overloaded and unseaworthy vessel.
  • Coast Guard commanders warned that such voyages risk capsizing and can lead to prosecution or immediate repatriation.

A U.S. Coast Guard crew rescued 77 migrants from an improvised boat in the Mona Passage before authorities repatriated 75 of them to the Dominican Republic. The vessel was intercepted northwest of Aguadilla, on Puerto Rico’s western coast.

The group included 73 Dominicans and four Haitians, 65 men and eight women. Coast Guard operators in San Juan received an alert from a Customs and Border Protection aircraft about a boat described as severely overloaded.

Thanks to the teamwork of the Coast Guard and partner agencies, 77 people were rescued from an improvised and severely overloaded boat.

· Matthew PinheyThe Joseph Doyle commander described the rescue operation.

The Coast Guard diverted the cutter Joseph Doyle and launched an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Borinquen Air Base to support the search and rescue operation. The cutter’s crew boarded the migrants safely after intercepting the boat.

Matthew Pinhey, commander of the Joseph Doyle, said the vessel was unstable and not suitable for navigation. “Without this rapid response, the unstable and unseaworthy boat could easily have capsized and ended in tragedy,” he said.

Without this rapid response, the unstable and unseaworthy boat could easily have capsized and ended in tragedy.

· Matthew PinheyHe warned about the danger posed by the intercepted vessel.

Matthew Romano, head of response for the Coast Guard’s San Juan sector, issued a direct warning to anyone considering an illegal sea journey: “Do not take to the sea!” He said these crossings often use overloaded boats without safety equipment and can result in prosecution or immediate repatriation.

The Mona Passage separates Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic and is frequently used by Dominicans and Haitians attempting to reach Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth.

Do not take to the sea!

· Matthew RomanoThe San Juan sector response chief warned prospective migrants against attempting the crossing.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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