16 Cubans, 2 Dominicans detained trying illegal entry to Puerto Rico

San Juan, PR.– Sixteen Cubans and two Dominicans were arrested by agents of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they tried to illegally enter Puerto Rico.

According to a CBP press release, the undocumented immigrants were arrested late Wednesday when sailing aboard a small boat 18 nautical miles (33 kilometers) west northwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico.

The Cubans, 13 men and three women, were repatriated to La Romana, Dominican Republic. The Dominicans, who were identified as Antonio Santana Areche, 41, and Felix Manuel Mejias Rijo, 39, were taken into custody.

On rescuing the migrants the officials collected their biographical information, including fingerprints and facial photographs, to determine if they had any criminal or illegal immigration history in the United States or a US territory.