US Coast Guard rescues 11 Haitian migrants stranded on Monito Island

The United States Coast Guard on Friday said the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon recently rescued 11 Haitian migrants who were left stranded by smugglers on the uninhabited natural reserve of Monito Island, Puerto Rico, in the Mona Passage.

“Deterring dangerous and irregular migration to the United States by sea is both a matter of ensuring U.S. border security and a lifesaving mission for those who take to the sea without understanding the hazards and perils of this journey,” said Lieutenant Peter Diamontopulos, Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon commanding officer.

“I am extremely proud of my crew’s ability to rescue all 11 migrants from a highly dangerous environment with no food or water and exposure to the elements,” he added. “The risk to life is not worth it; taking to the sea is never the answer. Seek legal migration pathways.”

The U.S. Coast Guard said watch standers in San Juan, Puerto Rico, received a communication from the crew of the fishing vessel Likeo, reporting a group of people in orange shirts who appeared to be stranded on the rocky cliffs of Monito Island.