Tuesday, officers of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, apprehended 17 illegal immigrants, 15 of Haitian origin and two Dominicans after they landed on the island of Mona (west of Puerto Rico).

Following notification of a possible incursion of migrants in Playa Pajaros on Mona Island, Park Rangers of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico, alerted the Border Patrol, which has deployed a group of agents with a helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Upon arrival, officers arrested two men who claimed to be Dominican nationals. An extensive search operation through the inhospitable nature reserve, led to the arrest of 15 other migrants, 13 men and 2 women, all claiming to be citizens of Haiti. The officers administered first aid to many migrants, who had symptoms of dehydration.

In the evening, a ship of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has transported the group to the port of entry of Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), for processing by the Immigration Service.

TB/ HaitiLibre