Aguadilla, Puerto Rico — U.S. Border Patrol agents and Puerto Rico Police Officers apprehended 34 undocumented migrants who made landfall early Wednesday morning near Los Bravos Beach in Isabela. Tragically, a deceased woman was also found ashore.
“Smugglers and bad actors continue to spread falsehoods and show complete disregard for the safety and well-being of vulnerable migrants venturing on the Mona Passage,” stated Desi DeLeon, Chief Patrol Agent for the Ramey Sector. “We continue to warn migrants of the dangers associated with such a journey.”
On May 15, at approximately 1:25 AM (AST), a Ramey Sector Border Patrol Agent detected a vessel traveling without navigation lights approximately three nautical miles north of Jobos Beach, Isabela. The vessel made landfall, prompting a search of the area.
Border Patrol Agents and FURA officers conducted a thorough search, resulting in the apprehension of 34 undocumented migrants: 5 men and 3 women from the Dominican Republic, and 20 men, 5 women, and 1 accompanied minor from Haiti. All individuals were transported to the Ramey Border Patrol Station for processing and removal proceedings.
At approximately 6:30 AM, agents discovered an unidentified deceased woman near the smuggling vessel. The Puerto Rico Police have taken the lead on investigating her death.
The perilous journey between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, spanning 80 nautical miles (130 kilometers), poses significant risks. Those who attempt this crossing in inadequate vessels endanger their lives and the lives of law enforcement officers involved in rescue missions. The trip’s dangers include exploitation by smuggling organizations, the risk of criminal prosecution, and the potential loss of life at sea.
The Ramey Sector, one of the twenty-one Border Patrol sectors across the United States, encompasses the U.S. territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is the only Border Patrol sector located outside the continental United States, with its entire border area consisting of coastline and an area of responsibility covering approximately 6,000 square miles of land and water, including the twelve-mile band of territorial waters surrounding the islands.–News Desk