"We have nothing": Haitians fleeing to Puerto Rico talk about their tragedy 3:19
(CNN Spanish) --
The United States Coast Guard reported that this Monday it rescued 34 Haitian immigrants who were abandoned by smugglers on the rocky cliffs of Monito Island in western Puerto Rico.
His immigration status is unknown.
He added that the Haitians were transported by United States Border Patrol agents to the Ramey sector in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
According to the press release, the operation was part of ongoing efforts by various federal agencies in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Interagency Border Group (CBIG).
Customs and Border Protection press spokesman Jeffrey Quiñones told CNN that 32 of the Haitians—seven women and 25 men—would be transported to the continental United States for processing.
He added that a woman with her youngest child will remain in Puerto Rico, where they were summoned to appear before an immigration judge.
Quiñones pointed out that a community entity has taken care of the mother and her son.
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According to the press release, the Coast Guard in San Juan was alerted by vigilantes from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources about people possibly stranded in the uninhabited Monito nature reserve, located next to Mona Island.
A Coast Guard boat located the group of Haitians.
The authorities explained that due to the strong sea conditions, with waves of up to four meters, the Coast Guard used a small boat to approach the cliffs of Monito Island.
Once in position, each person on the cliff took their turn jumping into the water, from where they were rescued.
“This case is concrete proof that smugglers are more than willing to abandon people in very austere and dangerous environments like Monito,” said Lt. Robert Renfrow, commanding officer of the Coast Guard vessel.
The statement detailed that from October 1 to November 30, the Coast Guard has carried out 11 illegal travel interdictions in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico, involving 324 non-US citizens, including 300 Dominicans. , 23 Haitians and one of unknown nationality.
HaitiansImmigrants
