| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: May 7, 2004 Contact: Lt. j.g. Eric Willis |
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MIGRANT INTERDICTION OPERATIONS *****Video Available***** SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The U.S. Coast Guard continues to intercept record numbers of migrants attempting to illegally enter United States This afternoon, the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing, intercepted a yola (boat) with 97 Dominican Republic nationals, two miles north of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Today's interception, combined with another from April 26 where 67 illegals were intercepted by the Cutter Resolute, brings the totals for Fiscal Year 2004 (Oct. 1, 2003 - present,) to 4,849 Dominican Republic migrants interdicted at sea. During Fiscal Year 2003, 2,476 Dominican migrants were intercepted. Already, FY 2004 Dominican migrant interdiction numbers are the highest since FY 1996. The migrant interdiction mission is conducted for two primary purposes: maritime border security and the safety of life at sea. The migrant interdiction mission requires a team effort, with each agency's resources patrolling in a coordinated fashion. In addition to the interdiction aspect of the mission, the involved agencies work closely together to develop intelligence regarding migrant activity so that the resources can be used in the most effective and efficient manner. The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ### EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the volume of cases occurring at this time we will not continue doing independent news releases for each event. Instead, we will provide regular updates to this fact sheet, which will remain available online at www.d7publicaffairs.com, as well as distributed actively when updated. Those individual cases where the specifics warrant individual attention will still be provided in specific news releases. The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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