Thread: Feds Apprehend 46 Illegal Immigrants Attempting to Make it to the U.S. by Sea

Feds Apprehend 46 Illegal Immigrants Attempting to Make it to the U.S. by Sea

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by CAROLINE MAY 21 Apr 2016

Customs and Border Protection officials in Puerto Rico apprehended more then 46 migrants attempting to make it to the U.S. by sea in two separate incidents earlier this week.

CBP Air and Marine Operations (AMO) apprehended 35 illegal immigrants from the Dominican Republican and Haiti attempting to make it to Puerto Rice on two “makeshift” boats.

“Air and Marine Operations agents remain vigilant for illegal smuggling operations throughout the region and work tirelessly with our partners to protect our borders,” Johnny Morales, the Director of Air Operations for the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch, said in a statement.

According to CBP, Monday night CBP first detected a 21-food wooden boat holding 9 illegal immigrants followed by a 25-foot fiberglass boat carrying 26 illegal immigrants. Seven of the apprehended passengers claimed to be Haitian the remaining 28 passengers said they were from the Dominican Republic.

A day later, CBP officials in Puerto Rico apprehended 11 more migrants, this time from Cuba, who had landed on Mona Island earlier in the day.

“CBP continues to promote safe, legal and orderly migration from Cuba under our Migration Accords and deter dangerous and illegal migration from Cuba,” Ramiro Cerrillo, Ramey Sector Chief Patrol Agent, said in a statement.

So far this fiscal year, the Ramey Border Patrol Sector has apprehended 162 Cuban migrants.

Unlike other migrants, Cubans receive special treatment once in the U.S. due to the Cuban Adjustment Act, which allows for an expedited path to legal permanent residency once on U.S. soil.

In the wake of the Obama administration’s move to normalize relations with Cuba, migration from the island nation has dramatically increased due to fears that the special protections granted to Cubans will end.

“The Administration has no plans to change the current immigration policy toward Cuba or seek legislative changes in relation to the Cuban Adjustment Act,” a CBP release noted, reiterating the administration’s current stance.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...-make-u-s-sea/

CBP detects 2 vessels with 35 migrants from Dominican
Republic and Haiti

Release Date:
April 20, 2016

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) detected Monday 2 makeshift wooden vessels with a
total of 35 undocumented migrants from the Dominican Republic and Haiti near the northwest coast of Puerto Rico.


DHC-8 Aircraft are capable to maintain surveillance of vessels of interest in the Caribbean.

“Air and Marine Operations agents remain vigilant for illegal smuggling operations throughout the region and work tirelessly with our partners
to protect our borders,” stated Johnny Morales Director of Air Operations for the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch.

Monday night a CBP Maritime Patrol Aircraft crew detected a 21-foot wooden boat with 9 migrants onboard, approximately 15 nautical miles
north of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. Shortly thereafter, the CBP aircrew detected a 25-foot fiberglass boat with 26 migrants, approximately
18 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

The CBP AMO aircraft crew maintained surveillance of both vessels while a CBP Marine Unit and USCG cutter were deployed to intercept both vessels.

In one vessel 9 migrants were found onboard, seven men and two women, who claimed to be nationals of the Domunican Republic; and in the other
26 migrants were found, 19 claimed to be from the Dominican Republic (17 men and two women), and 7 men claimed to be Haitian.

All migrants onboard were all transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kathleen Moore for safety and biometric processing to determine prior criminal
or immigration records.

The USCG Kathleen Moore transferred custody of 6 Dominicans facing prosecution to awaiting Border Patrol Agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Tuesday
afternoon.

The Coast Guard will repatriate 28 migrants to the Dominican Republic.

CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) serves and protects the American people through advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities conducting
its mission between ports of entry, in the air and maritime environments and within the nation’s interior.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control
and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of
the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-me...nican-republic