The Dominican Armada (Navy) detained 50 Haitians in San Pedro de Macoris yesterday, Monday 24 February, just as they were about to board an illegal boat (yola) to travel to Puerto Rico. The detainees, 35 men and 15 women were arrested between Cumayasa and Las Sardinas in San Pedro.
The boat was also confiscated and was around 30 feet long and 10 feet wide with two outboard motors and spare fuel.
The Haitians were taken to the head office of Naval Intelligence (M2). Navy Commander General Vice Admiral Edwin Rafael Dominici Rosario said that the number of arrested illegal travelers to Puerto Rico now stood at 282, of whom 212 are Haitian.
In a shipwreck off the Punta Cana coast on 20 February, some nine bodies of a group of 20 Haitians were recovered. The Haitians were attempting to reach Puerto Rico, when their boat capsized.
The number of Haitians trying to reach Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic has increased since the United States government loosened the immigration rules for Haitians following the 2010 earthquake. This has encouraged hundreds of Haitians to make the crossing, while Dominicans have been discouraged from doing so by media coverage of the high risks involved.
Apresan 50 haitianos en San Pedro de Macorís se iban ilegal a Puerto Rico