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  4. Border Patrol Apprehends 16 Aliens after Landing in Puerto Rico’s Northwest Coast

Border Patrol Apprehends 16 Aliens after Landing in Puerto Rico’s Northwest Coast

Release Date
Thu, 12/13/2018

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) Joint Forces for Rapid Action (FURA) agents apprehended Wednesday sixteen aliens from Dominican Republic and Haiti after they landed inside a makeshift vessel in the The "yola" was found in "las Ruinas" area of Aguadillacoast of the town of Aguadilla.

 “We work daily with FURA to stop various smuggling attempts in different localities throughout the island,” stated Xavier Morales, Ramey Sector Chief Patrol Agent. “Through the Operation Stonegarden Grant Program we enhance cooperation and coordination with state and local law enforcement agencies to force multiply in order to secure the border.”

In the early morning of Dec 12, FURA agents contacted Border Patrol after finding a 22-foot white and blue fiberglass makeshift vessel powered by a 60 HP Yamaha outboard engine, with no markings, adrift.  

With air support from an Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Blackhawk helicopter crew, Border Patrol Agents and FURA agents searched the vicinity, finding and apprehending sixteen aliens; eleven Dominican Republic males, one Haitian Male and four Dominican Republic females.

All aliens are being processed for violations to immigration law.

The Ramey Sector is the newest of the twenty-one Sectors spread out across the United States. Encompassing the U.S. territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, it is the only Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States. The Sector's entire border area is made up of coastline and its area of responsibility is made up of some 6,000 square miles of land and water area, including the twelve-mile band of territorial water surrounding the Islands.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021