Contingents from the Dominican and United States Navies conducted a joint operation from 26-28 March with the purpose of trying to stop the flow of illegal emigrants from the D.R. to Puerto Rico through the Mona Channel. Operation “Halcon IV” included eight vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard and Border Patrol and two U.S. helicopters which worked in conjunction with three ships of the Dominican Navy and two A-37 aircraft from the Dominican Air Force.
The operation seems to have stopped at least some attempts by organizers of the illegal voyages who send the emigrants across the canal in precarious, makeshift boats known as “yolas”. A spokesman for approximately 80 people told the Hoy newspaper that their planned trip was suspended by the organizer because of the presence of the ships involved in Halcon IV, while 16 passengers of another yola were rescued in the channel on 27 March.
According to the Listin Diario newspaper, during the first three months of 1996, 55 such boats have been detained, with a total of 1,870 passengers attempting to enter Puerto Rico illegally. In the whole of 1995, 157 yolas carrying 4,318 illegal emigrants were stopped, according to figures from the Dominican Navy. The main points of departure for the voyages are on the east coast, in the towns of Miches, Las Canitas, Cumayasa, Nisibon and Sabana del Mar, among others.
5-11 April 1996