May, 22 - 2:52 PM


U.S. Coast Guard repatriates 83 Dominican boatpeople



SAN JUAN. - The U.S. Coast Guard said today it repatriated a group of 83 Dominican boatpeople who tried to enter Puerto Rico illegally and holds another 5 who traveled with them.

The undocumented people were repatriated to the Dominican eastern city La Romana on Monday, after they were intercepted at sea on Sunday on a yola with 88 people on board.

Authorities had already registered 9 people with biometric data (photos and fingerprints) when the immigrants were intercepted, with 4 of them repatriated with the others, whereas 5 others remain under custody, charged with unspecified crimes.

Of the 5 immigrants who will face criminal charges 2 were previously deported whereas 3 others had tried to illegally enter Puerto Rico in 3 occasions.

The yola on which they traveled, that was later destroyed, was detected 7 nautical miles north of Desecheo Island, between Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic.



http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=24019