30 migrants detained on Mona Island by U.S. authorities

Federal authorities detained 30 migrants—three Dominicans and 27 Haitians—on Mona Island, Puerto Rico, with assistance from local rangers, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. The group was transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents in Mayagüez for processing and deportation.

Commander Matthew Romano reaffirmed that the U.S. maritime borders remain closed to illegal entry, warning that anyone attempting to enter by sea will be intercepted and repatriated. The Coast Guard received a report on Friday about individuals on Mona Island, and a helicopter crew later spotted a concealed boat and people hiding.

Located in the Mona Channel between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the island is a frequent migration route. Many migrants stranded there in recent years were left behind by smugglers, leading to multiple rescues and arrests.