| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: April 07, 2004 Contact: |
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ICE LOCATES 3 YOLAS, 99 MIGRANTS STOPPED SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Three more yolas and 99 migrants were intercepted in the Mona Passage last night through the coordinated efforts of the Coast Guard, ICE (immigration and Customs Enforcement) and FURA (Forces United for Rapid Action). About 10:30 last night the first Yola, a 20-foot homemade boat, was found by an ICE C-12 airplane 20 miles north east of Punta Boriquen. The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable intercepted the yola and brought all of the migrants aboard for safety. The18 people were Dominican Republic nationals, 12 male and 6 female. While monitoring the first yola, the ICE aircraft spotted a second 20-foot yola, this one containing 27 people. A FURA boat made the 12-mile trip offshore from Punta Borinquen to intercept the yola and remained with it for safety until Dependable arrived to embark the migrants. An ICE UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter located the third yola, which was then intercepted by the cutter Cushing. This time it was a 30-foot wood and fiberglass vessel with 54 Dominicans aboard, 36 male and 18 female. “Once again the coordination of air and surface assets between local and federal agencies have proven to be an effective way to protect our borders,” stated Lt. Luis Rodriguez, assistant Law Enforcement Officer for the Coast Guard's Greater Antilles Section. All the migrants were consolidated safely aboard Dependable with a group of 35 intercepted yesterday for a total of 134 to be repatriated to the Dominican Navy later today off the coast of the Dominican Republic. Since Friday, 480 migrants have been interdicted in the Mona Passage attempting to illegally enter the U.S. Once aboard the Coast Guard Cutter, all migrants receive food, water and medical attention if needed. CGC Dependable is a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter based in Cape May, N.J. CGC Cushing is a 110-foot Patrol Boat based in San Juan Puerto Rico ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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