| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: March 9, 2004 Contact: |
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SECOND MIGRANT STOP TODAY FOR COAST GUARD TEAM 37 Dominican Republic migrants intercepted off Puerto Rico SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The Coast Guard Cutter Vashon and a Coast Guard jet teamed up for the second time today, working together to intercept a 40-foot yola attempting to smuggle 37 illegal Dominican Republic migrants into Puerto Rico. The pair were successful earlier in the day, intercepting a 17-foot yola with 26 migrants aboard. This time, the crew of the HU-25 Falcon jet spotted the yola about 23 mles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico at 6:10 p.m. The cutter was directed toward the yola, arriving alongside to safely embark the migrants. It is expected the migrants will be repatriated to the Dominican Republic. While aboard Coast Guard cutters, migrants receive food, water and medical care as needed. With today's interceptions, 2,311 Dominican Republic migrants have been safely intercepted during 2004 from the small and often unseaworthy yolas. The Cutter Vashon is a 110-foot patrol boat based in San Juan. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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