The US Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos repatriated 22 migrants to the Dominican Republic. The illegal migrants were interdicted after two separate cases by routine patrol of in the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico of the US Coast Guard.
The US Coast Guard could well have saved the lives of the illegal travelers that were at sea when the stormy weathers of Tropical Storm Isaac were on their way. According to Lt. Luke Walsh, cutter Winslow Griesser commanding officer, “both of these vessels were overloaded and underpowered, posing an enormous risk of potentially capsizing and endangering the lives of all persons aboard”. A maritime patrol aircraft had earlier detected what was described as a “grossly overloaded 25-foot migrant boat,” approximately 35 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana. It was traveling toward Puerto Rico without navigational lights. On board were 17 men and a woman of Dominican nationality.
The same crew would detect another 12-foot migrant vessel in Mona Passage international waters on the way to Puerto Rico, again traveling without navigational lights, approximately 30 nautical miles northeast of Cabo Engaño. Four Dominicans were on board.
As reported, the cutter Joseph Tezanos was to transfer the migrants to the crew of a Dominican Republic Navy patrol boat for the individuals to be repatriated to the Dominican Republic.
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Military
18 September 2018
