Five Dominicans arrested in Puerto Rico attempting to re-enter the US

San Juan, PR.– US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) border patrol agents on Tuesday arrested five undocumented migrants from the Dominican Republic who were found among 16 undocumented aliens that were intercepted on Monday by the US Coast Guard between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

According to a CBP report, Mily Bastardo-Severino, Florentino Gervacio-Severino, Juan Sanchez-Sanchez, Chanel Severino, and Luis Emilio Severino-Olea, were due to appear on Friday in US District Court for an initial hearing regarding federal charges for attempting to re-enter after a previous removal.

A United States Coast Guard (USCG) aircraft conducting a patrol of the Mona Passage detected a wooden makeshift vessel, known as “yola” traveling east, approximately 25 miles northeast of the Dominican Republic.

USCG Cutter Richard Dixon was directed to the location and was able to intercept a 25 ft. wooden vessel with 16 adult subjects (15 males and 1 female). On board, all subjects’ fingerprints and pictures were entered for biometric system processing. Five out of the 16 individuals had prior immigration records.