U.S. authorities intercepted two vessels harboring illegal immigrants in separate incidents this month, preventing the entry of 57 foreign nationals.
The first interdiction involved the Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations detecting a 25- to 30-foot rustic vessel near Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico, on June 6, the CBP said in a June 15 statement. A U.S. Coast Guard cutter intercepted the vessel, which was moving toward the Puerto Rico shoreline.
Forty foreign nationals were apprehended—34 males and two females from the Dominican Republic, three men from Haiti, and one man from Uzbekistan.
“Air and Marine Operations remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the nation’s borders and ensuring the safety of our communities,” said Director Christopher Hunter of the CBP’s Caribbean Air and Marine branch….