Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and the Border Patrol arrested 37 undocumented immigrants this Monday in two simultaneous operations off the coast of Puerto Rico, according to a report by the American media Breitbart with exclusive information from federal authorities.
The two operations took place on opposite sides of the island on the same day, highlighting the maritime migration pressure the territory faces from multiple entry points.
The first operation took place on the east coast, where agents from the Air and Marine Unit of CBP intercepted ten undocumented foreigners from the Dominican Republic, India, and Ecuador.
The group had departed from St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, headed for Culebrita, a small uninhabited island off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
Among those arrested was also a U.S. citizen whose connection to the smuggling network is under investigation. The operator of the vessel was also arrested.
The second operation took place on the west coast, where agents from the Ramey Sector of the Border Patrol, with support from the Maritime Unit of the Puerto Rico Police and the Municipal Police of Cabo Rojo, intercepted a rustic boat known as a "yola" that successfully made landfall.
After patrolling the western coastline, authorities identified and arrested 27 immigrants from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, who were taken to the Ramey Border Patrol Station for processing and deportation.
Christopher Hunter, Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch of CBP, assessed the results: "These operations demonstrate our commitment to protecting the Caribbean region from illegal maritime activity. The rapid coordination and response of our agents ensured the safety of everyone involved."
On his part, Reggie Johnson, Chief of the Ramey Sector, emphasized that "our agents, working closely with our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant in securing the coastal borders of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared operations on social media with a direct message: "Our borders are closed to lawbreakers. Let this be a lesson to those thinking about illegally entering our nation: we will find you and arrest you."
Arrests are occurring in a context of unprecedented immigration crackdowns. ICE set a historical record in June 2026 with 39,563 arrests, a number that rises to 43,138 when including CBP arrests, while the population in ICE custody reached approximately 65,765 individuals as of July 11.
Puerto Rico is an active maritime route for human smuggling towards U.S. territory. In October 2022, authorities rescued 48 Cuban, Haitian, and Dominican migrants abandoned on the uninhabited island of Mona by the very smugglers who were transporting them.
The head of the Miami Sector of the Border Patrol, Jeffrey J. Dinise, summarized the danger of these crossings with a warning that remains relevant: "Freedom is not worth it if you are not alive to enjoy it."
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