US Coast Guard Repatriates 30 Dominican Migrants After Mona Passage Interception

November 12, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

The US Coast Guard has repatriated 30 Dominican nationals after intercepting an overloaded migrant boat in the Mona Passage, a maritime route between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

The migrants were transferred to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel offshore Samaná on Tuesday, following an operation by the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle. One other person from the group remains pending repatriation, according to the US Coast Guard.

The operation began early Monday after a Customs and Border Protection aircraft detected a 25-foot, light-blue boat carrying an undetermined number of people. Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan diverted the Joseph Doyle to intercept the vessel.

Upon reaching the boat, the crew found it heavily overloaded and riding low in the water, creating a risk of capsizing. Coast Guard personnel embarked all 31 occupants for their safety.

All those aboard identified themselves as Dominican Republic nationals. The Coast Guard subsequently coordinated with interagency partners and the Dominican Republic Navy to arrange their return.

Cmdr. Matthew Pinhey, commanding officer of the Joseph Doyle, warned that attempting the crossing in makeshift vessels without safety equipment exposed passengers to potentially fatal maritime conditions.

The interdiction forms part of Operation Vigilant Sentry, a US-led initiative involving air, land and maritime patrols across the Florida Straits, Windward Passage, Mona Passage and Caribbean Sea. The operation seeks to prevent unlawful maritime entry into the United States and its territories while protecting lives at sea.

The Coast Guard said people intercepted at sea or apprehended ashore would not be permitted to remain in the United States or a US territory and could face repatriation to their country of origin or departure.

The operation also falls under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, established through Executive Order 14159, which coordinates federal agencies in efforts to combat transnational criminal organisations, human smuggling and trafficking.

Source: FSX Business News