| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: July 15, 2004 Contact: LTjg Eric Willis |
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SEARCH SUSPENDED FOR MISSING MIGRANTS SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The Coast Guard suspended its search in the Mona Pass for 15 missing migrants at 7 p.m. yesterday. The search started 8 p.m. Monday after an ICE Air and Marine Operations aircraft located an overturned migrant boat. Searchers located three bodies and rescued 14 people, the number believed missing is based on information provided by the survivors. Search efforts included ICE AMO, the Puerto Rico Police Department's Forces United for Rapid Action, and the Coast Guard. 18 air sorties have been flown, for more than 40 flight hours. The Venturous and Cushing have been searching since 8:30 Monday night. "Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the loved ones of the dead and missing," said Capt. Douglas Rudolph, Coast Guard Greater Antilles Section Commander. He continued, "We commend the ICE Air Marine Ops crew whose vigilance located the capsized boat, which is the only reason there are any survivors at all. As a team we will continue to patrol these waters to interdict, rescue and repatriate migrants at sea, but as long as long as people continue to ignore the danger of these voyages we will be witnesses to more avoidable deaths." Since Oct. 1, 2003, 45 migrants are now known to have died in the Mona Pass, with the above missing bringing that number to 60. Thirteen of the surviving migrants will be repatriated to the Dominican Republic today by the cutter Venturous, which will also deliver about 34,000 pounds of humanitarian aid for the Dominican Republic and Haiti. One migrant who swam ashore on Desecheo Island and was airlifted ashore Tuesday remains in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol. CGCs Cushing is a 110-foot Patrol Boat based in San Juan. CGC Venturous is a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter based in St. Petersburg, Fla. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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