The United States Coast Guard rescued 15 men and 4 women in a 20-foot, single-motor fiberglass boat. The tiny craft was spotted by a tugboat on its way from San Juan to Philadelphia. The Coast Guard sent a plane and helicopter to pick up the voyagers who were lost at sea 150 kilometers North of Desecheo Island to the west of Puerto Rico. Since 1 January, the US Coast Guard has picked up 2,159 Dominicans trying to reach Puerto Rico, a figure far above the 1,469 picked up during all of 2003. At least 24 people have died at sea since October of 2003. Diario Libre reported additionally that four undocumented Dominicans were arrested by police on the streets of Aguadilla, PR, showing that political uncertainty and a dismal local economy continue to provide motive to Dominicans hoping to find a better life on their neighbor island – despite the perils the voyage entails.