12 migrant stowaways interdicted on barge headed into San Juan

Coast Guard Station San Juan crew transferred custody of apprehended stowaway migrants to CBP Office of Field Operations personnel at Coast Guard Base San Juan [U.S. Coast Guard photo]

U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection have apprehended 12 stowaway migrants in a response that began at 8.43 a.m Saturday, Nov. 25, when watchstanders at Sector San Juan received notification from a Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew of a possible stowaway sighting aboard a barge that was being towed by the tugboat Sarah Dann.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan’s Boarding Team responded to the report and found nine stowaways aboard the barge, including one who was unresponsive. The unresponsive stowaway was reported to be breathing and to have vital signs. The boarding team also learned that three other stowaways in the group had jumped into the water during the vessel’s transit just off the entrance of San Juan Harbor.

Coast Guard watchstanders directed Coast Guard on-scene units to search for the three reported stowaways in the water, while a Puerto Rico Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit also responded to assist. Shortly thereafter, U.S. Border Patrol authorities apprehended two of the stowaways who were able to swim to shore, while the remaining stowaway was rescued from the water by a Coast Guard Station San Juan crew aboard a 33-foot Special Purpose Craft – Law Enforcement.

A Station San Juan boat crew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat Medium transported the nine stowaways from the barge to Coast Guard Base San Juan where Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations units received them into custody, while the unresponsive stowaway was received and transported by Emergency Medical Service personnel to a local hospital.

“I cannot emphasize enough just how dangerous it is to have stowaways board or jump from a moving barge,” said Capt. Robert M. Pirone, Sector San Juan acting commander. “The quick response and close collaboration of all responding Coast Guard and partner agency units prevented a tragic outcome and accounted for the safety of all the stowaways in this case.”

Migrants who are interdicted at sea or apprehended ashore will not be allowed to stay in the United States or a U.S. territory. Furthermore, anyone migrants who arrive unlawfully may be declared ineligible for legal immigration parole options and be repatriated to their country of origin or returned to the country that the voyage departed from.

From Oct. 1, 2023, through Oct. 31, 2023, the Coast Guard carried out nine interdictions of unlawful irregular migration voyages in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico. Interdicted during this period were 206 non-U.S. citizens including 201 Dominicans, and five Haitians.

From Oct. 1, 2022, through Sep. 30, 2023, the Coast Guard carried out 67 interdictions of unlawful irregular maritime migration voyages in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico. Interdicted during this period were 2,161 non-U.S. citizens including 1,871 Dominicans, 264 Haitians, 15 Venezuelans, seven Kazakhs, one Albanian, two Colombians and one person of unknown nationality.