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  4. Border Patrol Agents Apprehend 11 Cubans in Western Puerto Rico

Border Patrol Agents Apprehend 11 Cubans in Western Puerto Rico

Release Date
Fri, 06/07/2019

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico –Ramey Station U.S. Border Patrol agents, along with the Aguada Municipal Police, apprehended 11 aliens from Cuba that reached Puerto Rico’s western coast on Thursday.  

“As with all aliens that we apprehend, we will process according to immigration law and identify anyone in the group that may have a prior criminal history that qualifies them for prosecution,” indicated Xavier Morales, Chief Patrol Agent of the Ramey Sector. “We want to reiterate that Cubans are not afforded any special considerations, and will be processed, ordered removed and returned to Cuba.”

Ramey Agents work with local police to patrol the coast of Puerto Rico
Ramey Agents work with local police
to patrol the coast of Puerto Rico

On the afternoon of June 6, Ramey Border Patrol Agents along with the Aguada Municipal Police, a Stonegarden partner, responded to a maritime smuggling event finding a group of aliens, 7 men and 4 women, all claiming to be from Cuba.  No vessel was found on shore.

All aliens were transported to the Ramey Station for immigration processing and removal. 

On January 12, 2017, the Administration announced the immediate cessation of the wet feet, dry feet policy.   For fiscal year 2017, Ramey Border Patrol Agents apprehended 184 Cubans and in 2018 apprehended four.  To date only 1 Cuban had been apprehended.

CBP maintains a strong position regarding the enforcement of our immigration laws along the country's borders and coastal areas.

The Operation Stonegarden Grant Program (OPSG) is designed to enhance cooperation and coordination from the U.S. Border Patrol with local, tribal, territorial, state and federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the border.   

The Ramey Sector is the newest of the twenty-one Sectors spread out across the United States. Encompassing the U.S. territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, it is the only Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States. The Sector's entire border area is made up of coastline and its area of responsibility is made up of some 6,000 square miles of land and water area, including the twelve-mile band of territorial water surrounding the Islands.

For anonymous tips contact us at 1(800)981-1313.

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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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021