42 Migrants Apprehended, 5 Medevaced After Makeshift Vessel Lands On Puerto Rico Beach

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 42 alien migrants Wednesday after their makeshift vessel landed on a Puerto Rico beach, and five had to be medevaced for medical assistance.

The Coast Guard said watchstanders at Sector San Juan were alerted by the Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action Wednesday morning that a 30-foot vessel was approaching the Aguadilla shoreline. Because the rocky shoreline posed risks to the “overloaded makeshift vessel,” a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk aircrew was launched to provide rescue support.

Ramey Sector U.S. Border Patrol agents, CG Base Borinquen, Puerto Rico Police and local emergency responders responded to the scene. When the vessel landed at Survival Beach in Aguadilla, all those on board were apprehended.

A total of 42 aliens were apprehended, including 33 Dominican Republic nationals, eight Haitian and one Ecuadorian.

“We are grateful for the swift response and teamwork demonstrated by our Border Patrol agents, the United States Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Police, and local emergency responders during this challenging event,” said Reggie Johnson, Chief Patrol Agent for Ramey Sector. “The safety and well-being of every individual involved is always our top priority, and today’s actions reflect the dedication and professionalism of all agencies working together.”

Due to the “difficult mountainous and rocky terrain” at the beach, Border Patrol agents requested a medevac for two migrants who were unresponsive, and another who sustained a leg injury. A Coast Guard aircrew lowered a rescue swimmer to the beach to secure and hoist one of the unresponsive patients.

Border Patrol Agents, CG Base Borinquen, local municipal emergency responders and emergency medical service personnel recovered the remaining patients. In total, five migrants were transported to a local hospital, the Coast Guard said.

“This mission was a testament to the training, coordination, and dedication of our entire crew and our partner agencies,” said Lt. Ryan Marshall. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircraft commander of the case. “We commend the professionalism of our aircraft mechanic and our rescue swimmer in the successful execution of a difficult cliff side hoist, which led to the rescue of a man in critical condition. I am incredibly proud of our team working alongside Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol, Puerto Rico Police, Aguadilla Air Traffic Control, and all other local agency responders to ensure this operation resulted in multiple lives saved.”