WASHINGTON: The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says 20 undocumented migrants from Haiti and the Dominican Republic have been detained by the authorities. CBP said the migrants were in the process of disembarking near the Puerto Rico coastal town of Aguada.
“Migrants continue to put their lives at unnecessary risk by navigating through the Mona Passage not knowing the multiple hazards within the area,” said Ramiro Cerrillo, Ramey Sector Chief Patrol Agent, adding “we reiterate our warning of the perils of making such a dangerous journey”.
CBP said a Ramey Station Border Patrol Agent spotted an overcrowded 25 foot makeshift “yola” type vessel heading towards the Aguada coast using a mobile surveillance system.
It said the “yola” vessel made landfall near a communications antenna in Aguada and that the 20 people, including four Haitian males, were detained.
The illegal maritime smuggling ventures arriving in Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic are ordinarily transported in rustic, homemade wooden vessels commonly referred to as “yolas,” CBP said.
