11 Dominican immigrants opt for voluntary return from Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico.- The Dominican Republic’s consul in Puerto Rico, César Cedeño Ávila, announced that 11 Dominican immigrants, mostly women aged 25 to 40, voluntarily agreed to return to their country after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last Sunday. This decision allows them to avoid a criminal record and preserves the possibility of legally returning to Puerto Rico in the future.

Of the 12 detained, only one opted to face legal proceedings in the United States, while the rest chose voluntary departure. The immigrants, some of whom had been living in Puerto Rico for up to four years, will be transferred to Santo Domingo with consular-issued documents serving as temporary passports.

Cedeño highlighted the importance of maintaining communication with federal authorities to ensure detainees’ rights are respected. He called for sensitivity in these cases, particularly when children are involved, and urged the Dominican community in Puerto Rico to carry proper identification and residency documents to prevent complications.