Five deported Dominicans arrested as stowaways in Puerto Rico

San Juan, (EFE).- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported the arrest of five Dominican nationals who attempted to return to San Juan as stowaways on a barge. The CBP Anti-Terrorism Smuggling Enforcement Team, responding to a request from the Coast Guard, conducted a vessel inspection that led to the detention of one individual. A further search of a tugboat and barge arriving from Jacksonville, Florida, resulted in the capture of four more stowaways.

Authorities confirmed that all five individuals—Nicauri Rodríguez Melo, Julio Campana Damaso, Joel Báez Marte, Anthony Junior Solano, and Silverio Arias Vásquez—had previously been deported or expelled from the U.S. They now face federal charges for illegal reentry under Title 8, U.S. Code, Section 1326. Their first court appearance before federal magistrate Hector Ramos-Vega took place on January 31.

The arrests come amid a growing crackdown on undocumented immigrants in Puerto Rico, aligning with federal enforcement measures. With approximately 60,000 Dominicans residing on the island—making up 60% of its immigrant population—many continue to risk the perilous journey by sea, often in fragile boats known as yolas, in pursuit of a better future.