Human TraffickingMigration

U.S. Custom and Border Protection agents rescued 23 migrants stranded on Mona Island, Puerto Rico

The migrants arrived to Mona Island as part of an illegal voyage, which made landfall on the shores of the uninhabited natural reserve Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan, received a report at approximately 2:37 p.m. Tuesday from Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Park Rangers reporting multiple unidentified people scattered on Mona Island, and that their location was not accessible by road. 

Overflights conducted by Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and Puerto Rico Police aircraft confirmed the report and identified a beached 25-foot boat on the southeast side of the island.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter delivered food supplies for the migrants to Mona Island Tuesday evening, as DPNR park rangers continued efforts to rendezvous with and move the migrants to the safety of the DPNR station.  Meanwhile, coordination efforts to rescue the migrants from Mona Island were underway.

Wednesday morning and afternoon, CBP Caribbean Air and Marine Branch MH-60 helicopters conducted multiple flights to Mona Island to pick-up the 23 migrants, 22 men and a woman, who were all transported to Aguadilla. 

The migrants, whom all claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals, were received by awaiting U.S. Ramey Sector Border Patrol Agents for further immigration processing.

Emergency Medical Service also arrived were also on scene to assess the health of the migrants and provide medical assistance as needed.