Coast Guard repatriates 72 migrants to Dominican Republic, following unlawful migration voyage interdiction in the Mona Passage

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle repatriated 71 migrants to San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, Saturday, following the interdiction of an unlawful irregular migration voyage in the Mona Passage. The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos repatriated one other migrant from this case to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel, Monday, just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The interdiction occurred after the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft detected a grossly overloaded makeshift vessel in Mona Passage waters southwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Thursday night. The suspect vessel was transiting from the Dominican Republic to enter the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.