AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) federal authorities arrested one United States Citizen and five aliens of the Dominican Republic for violation of immigration law. 

Late last night, an aircraft of the US Customs and Border Protection’s, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB), detected a 20 foot vessel with numerous persons on board approximately 10 miles west of the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse heading towards the south west coast of Puerto Rico.

CAMB requested assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Puerto Rico Police Department FURA units, who intercepted the vessel, verifying 16 subjects on-board.

The subjects were transferred to the US Coast Guard Cutter Farallon, for biometric processing and immigration interviews. 

Per CBIG standard operating procedures, aliens with prior criminal or immigration record are subject to federal criminal prosecution after Border Patrol Agents present the case to the US Attorney’s Office. 

A Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit interdicted the migrant vessel southwest of Cabo Rojo, and assisted the Farallon in safely embarking four women, 11 men and male minor aboard the cutter. The crew of the Farallon collected biographic information, including digital fingerprints and facial photographs, of the interdicted migrants.

The Farallon rendezvoused with Ramey Sector Border Patrol Agents Tuesday in Añasco, Puerto Rico, who conducted migrant interviews and took five detainees, four Dominicans and one Puerto Rican, into custody to face judicial proceedings ashore.

The crew of the Farallon repatriated the remaining 11 Dominicans at approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday to La Romana, Dominican Republic, where they turned custody of the migrants over to awaiting Dominican Republic Naval authorities ashore.