A boatload of Russian nationals and migrants from the Dominican Republic were intercepted in US waters and turned over to federal immigration and border patrol authorities, the Coast Guard reported.
A Coast Guard crew out of Puerto Rico spotted the 20-foot “panga-style” boat about 3 miles off the coast of Aguadilla on Friday morning, taking two Russians and three migrants from the DR who were trying to reach the US into custody, the maritime enforcement agency said.
The Russians and two of the Dominican migrants were turned over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the third was turned over to federal prosecutors in Puerto Rico to face charges of attempting to illegally enter the country, the agency said.
“Aliens seeking to make this unlawful journey will be interdicted and repatriated, and repeat offenders are further subject to possible criminal prosecution,” Coast Guard Sector San Juan Commander Matthew Romano said in a statement. “Don’t take to the sea.”
The migrant boat was intercepted by Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos.
The two Russians, a man and a woman, were turned over to ICE “for investigation and removal,” along with two of the migrants from the Dominican Republic.
The Coast Guard has stepped up efforts to intercept migrants trying to get to the US illegally in keeping with President Trump’s efforts to ship illegal immigrants back home.
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