The US Coast Guard in San Juan reported that it repatriated 16 Dominican immigrants who attempted to arrive in Puerto Rico on Monday in an improvised vessel through the Mona Passage. The Sector San Juan control center received a report from a Coast Guard HC-144 'Ocean Sentry' aircraft about an overloaded 22-foot vessel off Aguadilla, on the west coast of Puerto Rico.
A US Customs and Border Protection multifunctional aircraft joined the operation and maintained aerial surveillance while the 'Richard Dixon' patrol boat intercepted the vessel. The 19 people on board, including 14 men, three women, and two minors, claimed to be Dominican citizens. They were transferred to the 'Joseph Tezanos’ patrol boat for repatriation.
Fourteen migrants were later transferred to the Dominican Republic Navy’s 'Bellatrix' ship, while the two minors were handed over to representatives of the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONANI). US federal agencies warned Dominican citizens to avoid such dangerous journeys, with Coast Guard Sector San Juan response chief Matthew Romano advising against attempting illegal maritime travel.