see also: in CBP News Releases:   Border Patrol Agents Seize Cocaine, Marijuana Worth $2.4 Million   CBP Officers Seize More than $179,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry   CBP Officers Seize Close to 5,000 Pounds of Marijuana in Commercial Shipment   CBP Announces New Port Director at Friday Harbor   CBP Announces New Port Director at Lynden Crossing   California CBP Officers Intercept 136 Pounds of Cocaine in Separate Incidents   Border Patrol Foils Underground Smuggling Ploy ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection collaborative law enforcement efforts resulted in repatriating 38 Dominican migrants to La Romana, Dominican Republic Thursday morning, while 16 others were detained for prosecution following an at-sea interdiction.

On Tuesday, CBP Air and Marine assets spotted a small boat loaded with illegal immigrants in the Caribbean Ocean near Puerto Rico. When the boat capsized, CBP agents, with the aid from its partners in the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG), rescued 54 people approximately 13 nautical miles west of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

The dramatic events started around 10 a.m., on Tuesday when a CBP Air and Marine surveillance plane spotted the boat. A closer look revealed a small boat overloaded with possible illegal immigrants. CBP immediately dispatched several boats to the scene and notified the U.S. Coast Guard and Puerto Rican police.

Responding law enforcement boats intercepted the vessel in less than an hour. However, the vessel began to take on water as Puerto Rican police moved in to transfer the passengers. Two passengers dove into the water and the remaining passengers moved toward the police boat as the small “yola” capsized.

Other vessels in the area moved in for rescue operations to safely bring on board 45 men and nine women. Coast Guard helicopters and CBP assets began a coordinated search of the area for other survivors. The search terminated on Tuesday evening when authorities determined that all onboard the “yola” were rescued.

Coast Guard processing determined that 15 Dominicans and one Haitian rescued should face criminal prosecution. Also, biometric checks determined that five of these have prior criminal records in the United States and may be subject to extradition.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.