| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: March 12, 2004 Contact: |
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COAST GUARD STOPS 236 MIGRANTS SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The crew of a Coast Guard rescue helicopter sighted two boats, or yolas, attempting to smuggle illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic into Puerto Rico just after noon today. After sighting the first boat 28 miles off Punta Borinquen, Puerto Rico, the helicopter crew orbited overhead, awaiting the arrival of a Coast Guard cutter to intercept the boat. They also maintained search and cover in case the migrants ran into difficulty. While orbiting, the helicopter crew sighted a second yola ten miles west of the first. The Coast Guard Cutter Reliance arrived alongside the first yola and used its small boat to safely transfer the 137 migrants from the yola to the cutter. After all were safely aboard, The Reliance, guided by the circling Coast Guard helicopter, intercepted the second yola and another 99 people trying to ilegally migrate to Puerto Rico. In the last five days more than 500 migrants have been rescued in the Mona Passage. So far this year the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted 2,672 Dominican Republic migrants trying to ilegally enter Puerto Rico. While on Coast Guard cutters, migrants receive food, water, and medical attention as needed. The Cutter Reliance is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter based in Portsmouth, N.H. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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