The United States Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez repatriated 58 migrants to the Dominican Republic on Saturday, after interdicting an irregular, unlawful migration voyage in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico.
A Coast Guard release said the interdiction occurred on Thursday evening.
Coast Guard officials transferred the migrants to Dominican Republic Navy authorities in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
According to a release, the Coast Guard Cutter Reliance located and interdicted the migrants’ ‘grossly overloaded’ 35-foot makeshift vessel in international waters, approximately 50 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
The cutter Reliance crew launched a small boat alongside the migrant vessel and provided life jackets to the migrants before transferring them all to the cutter’s safety.
Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Sector San Juan chief of response, disclosed that the migrants claimed to have been at sea for four days aboard their unseaworthy vessel with no lifesaving equipment.
Romano declared that it was ‘a very highly dangerous situation’ that could have led to a most tragic outcome.
“We urge those thinking of taking part in one of these voyages to not take to the sea at risk to your life, and instead seek safe, orderly and lawful migration pathways,” he stated.
United States authorities have warned that migrants interdicted at sea or apprehended ashore will not be allowed to stay in the United States or a U.S. territory.
In addition, they have stated that anyone who arrives unlawfully may be declared ineligible for legal immigration parole options and be repatriated to their country of origin or returned to the country of departure.
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