MIAMI, Florida--The US Coast Guard repatriated 84 Haitian migrants on Tuesday to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and 24 Dominican Republic migrants to authorities in Santo Domingo.
While on routine patrol the US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Thetis crew located an overloaded 42-foot migrant vessel dead in the water on Sunday approximately 30 miles southwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, arrived on scene and safely embarked 84 Haitian migrants for safety of life at sea concerns.
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew forward deployed to Great Inagua, the Bahamas, provided overhead support.
“The overloaded vessel we interdicted was dead in the water and lacked basic safety equipment such as life jackets and flotation devices, which could have led to a fatal accident at sea,” said Commander Randall Chong, commanding officer of the cutter Thetis. “I am very proud of my crew on the cutter Thetis for finding, aiding and ultimately rescuing all persons on board and we will continue to patrol the Caribbean and Florida Straits to ensure safety of life at sea.”
Approximately 132 Haitian migrants have attempted to illegally migrate to the US via the maritime environment since October 1, compared to 2,488 Haitian migrants in fiscal year 2018. These numbers represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and the Atlantic.
Also on Tuesday, the crew of the USCGC Winslow Griesser returned 24 migrants to authorities in Santo Domingo following the at-sea interdiction of a migrant vessel last week Thursday in waters approximately 22 nautical miles northeast of Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic.
The interdiction is the result of ongoing efforts in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG).
“The excellent coordination between three Coast Guard cutters and Coast Guard Sector San Juan ensured the safe return of all 24 persons to the Dominican Republic, and serves as a constant reminder of the inherent dangers associated with taking to the sea in such overloaded and unseaworthy vessels,” said Lt. Luke A. Walsh, USCGC Winslow Griesser commanding officer.
During a routine patrol of the Mona Passage on Thursday afternoon, the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft detected a grossly overloaded 20-foot migrant boat in international waters traveling illegally towards Puerto Rico. Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis to interdict the vessel.
Shortly thereafter, the Thetis arrived on scene with the migrant vessel that was disabled and taking on water. The Thetis crew safely embarked all 24 migrants, a Haitian man and 23 Dominicanos, including an adult woman and two male minors.
Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.
The migrants were subsequently transferred from the Thetis to the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier and lastly to the Winslow Griesser for their final transport to the Dominican Republic. ~ Caribbean News Now! ~
