Haitian Migrants Forced to Walk the Plank: Coast Guard Rescue
The Coast Guard says it repatriated 19 Haitian migrants from an intediction in the Mona Passage, including a pair of migrants who had to be rescued after they were thrown into the sea by the people-smugglers. A group of 19 migrants was detected by a Coast Guard aircraft west of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Key Largo to interdict the migrant vessel and informed federal law enforcement partner agencies. Upon the cutter Key Largo’s arrival on scene, the smugglers, in an attempt to flee the area and avoid interdiction, allegedly threatened the migrants onboard and forced two Haitians, including a minor, overboard without life jackets. The crew of the Key Largo saved the two Haitians and continued to pursue the suspect vessel.
ICE Marine Ops Overview
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is tasked to protects citizens and critical infrastructure through the coordinated use of air and marine law enforcement to detect, interdict, and deter acts of terrorism and smuggling arising from the unlawful movement of people, goods, and money across the borders of the U.S. AMO’s has three core competencies – airspace security, air and marine interdiction, and air and marine law enforcement support. The Marine Division of AMO operates 73 vessels. The marine fleet includes 39-ft. interceptor vessels, 33-foot SAFE boats, various utility craft, and larger ocean-going support and radar platform vessels. These AMO vessels operate mostly along U.S. coastlines and in U.S. seaports.
