Two suspected unauthorized migrants were rescued and apprehended Sunday after they jumped from a barge into the water while transiting into Puerto Rico's San Juan Harbor, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The individuals were pulled from the water by a Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew and taken to shore, where they were taken into custody by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations personnel.
The rescue occurred at about 10 a.m. after the migrants jumped from the 402'9"x100' barge Charlotte Bridge as it was being towed into San Juan Harbor by Dawn Services' 120'x34' tugboat Southern Dawn, operating as part of Trailer Bridge’s regular weekly service between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard crew escorted the tugboat and barge safely to their berth.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders were first alerted by the crew of the Southern Dawn, who reported suspecting that at least two unauthorized individuals were hidden aboard the barge. A small boat crew was launched in anticipation that the individuals might enter the water.
“I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is for stowaways to board or jump from a moving barge,” said Cmdr. Matt Romano, response department head and operations officer of Coast Guard Sector San Juan. “The coordination and swift response of the Coast Guard and our partner agencies not only prevented a tragic incident but also demonstrated our commitment to securing our borders.”
After the vessels arrived pierside, a Sector San Juan boarding team, along with CBP Office of Field Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Puerto Rico Police Department, conducted a security boarding to ensure no additional unauthorized individuals remained aboard the barge.
Authorities said individuals interdicted at sea or apprehended ashore after arriving unlawfully are not permitted to remain in the United States or its territories and may be repatriated to their country of origin or returned to their point of departure.
The Charlotte Bridge is operated as part of Trailer Bridge’s regular weekly service between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
