An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. CBP apprehends 11 Cubans that landed in Mona Island

CBP apprehends 11 Cubans that landed in Mona Island

Release Date
Wed, 11/02/2016

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rescued and apprehended Tuesday 11 Cuban migrants after landing in Mona Island.  

Park Rangers from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), on Mona Island, reported the presence of  11 undocumented migrants (4 adult females, 7 adult males) claiming to be Cuban nationals.  The group landed in Punta Arenas beach.

Cuban migrants board a CBP Blackhawk in Mona Island
Cuban migrants board a CBP Blackhawk
in Mona Island

“Migrants continue to place themselves at the mercy of smugglers who have complete disregard for their safety and leave them within the shores of Mona knowing the dangers involved,” said Johnny Morales, Director of Air Operations for the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch.

A CBP Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Blackhawk helicopter removed and transported the group to Ramey where Border Patrol agents took custody of all subjects.

On Oct. 24, Border Patrol apprehended 14 Cuban migrants that reached Mona. 

CBP maintains a strong position regarding the enforcement of our immigration laws along the country's borders and coastal areas.

After admissibility processing at the Border Patrol Station, Cuban nationals will receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) before an Immigration Judge, for further proceedings under the Cuban Migration Agreement of 1995 and the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966.

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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021