El Caribe reported on Saturday that beginning in the 90s, when the Dominican Republic went through a severe economic crisis, and then again, in the middle of that decade, an electoral crisis, the incidence of illegal migration increased markedly. Today, we are seeing the same phenomenon. During the year 2003, the authorities intercepted 1,469 illegal travelers trying to reach Puerto Rico in the little boats called “yolas.” By the end of January of 2004 alone, the authorities had intercepted 1,340 people headed for Puerto Rico. In 1990, according to El Caribe’s Itania Mari, the US Coast Guard hauled in 1,246 individuals trying to cross the Mona Passage. In 1991, 1,455 were captured and returned to their point of origin, while the years 1992 and 1993 saw less than half those numbers. In 1994, 1995, and then peaking in the electoral crisis of 1996, however, 810, 4,047 and 5,430 individuals were apprehended, respectively. These figures indicate that the year 2004 could be a record-breaking year for such illegal migrantion. Sociologists Antinoe Fiallo and Celedonio Jimenez say there are two reasons for the new wave of illegal travelers. The first is a serious worsening of the economic situation and the second is a crisis of expectations. The sociologists told reporters that among today’s youth, there is a feeling of being trapped in their neighborhoods with no apparent way up or out.