A group of Russian nationals and migrants from the Dominican Republic were intercepted in U.S. waters and handed over to federal immigration and border patrol authorities, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard reported that Puerto Rico law enforcement spotted a 20-foot "panga-style" boat approximately three nautical miles off the coast of Aguadilla, a town on Puerto Rico’s northwestern tip, on Friday, February 28, and alerted the maritime agency.
The small vessel had five individuals onboard: three men who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals, and a man and a woman who claimed to be Russian nationals. The Coast Guard noted that one of the migrants had a previous criminal record in the United States and was charged with attempted illegal re-entry into the country.
The interdiction occurred early Friday morning, February 28, when two Puerto Rico Police Joint Force of Rapid Action (FURA) marine units noticed a white, 20-foot, panga-style vessel off the Aguadilla coastline. The two Russians, a man and a woman, were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, "for investigation and removal."
Two of the three Dominican Republic migrants were repatriated to Punta Cana on Saturday, while the third migrant, who had a prior criminal history, was transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, to face charges.
Commander Matthew Romano, the chief of response in the Coast Guard San Juan sector, stated that this recent interception "showcases the collaboration and coordination" between agencies. He warned, "Aliens seeking to make this unlawful journey will be interdicted and repatriated, and repeat offenders are further subject to possible criminal prosecution. Don’t take to the sea."
Following directives from former President Donald Trump, the Coast Guard has expanded its border patrol efforts to combat illegal immigration. Fox News Digital previously reported that military crews intercepted a boat carrying nine illegal immigrants bound for San Diego on January 25, and another boat carrying 16 illegal immigrants on February 2, both off the coast of California.
The Coast Guard is increasing assets and personnel from across the nation to support the Department of Homeland Security in its mission to counter illegal migrant activity. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard and ICE for further comment.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital. She joined FOX in 2021 and has covered breaking and major news events across the U.S. and globally, including the fallout from the "Defund the police" movement, assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, and illegal immigration. Follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Stay updated with the latest news by visiting ZTC News and ZNews Today. Explore more stories and stay informed!