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  4. U.S. Border Patrol, Operation Stonegarden Partners Apprehend 20 Aliens after landing in Hatillo, Puerto Rico

U.S. Border Patrol, Operation Stonegarden Partners Apprehend 20 Aliens after landing in Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Release Date
Thu, 09/12/2019

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico –U.S. Border Patrol agents, along with the Hatillo Municipal Police and the Puerto Rico Police, apprehended 20 aliens Thursday after landing in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, in the northern coast.

“Once again, the community has been alert and reported suspicious activity which triggered our response to this smuggling attempt through our coastal borders. Keeping our communities safe continues to be one of our major priorities and we encourage everyone to assist us in our mission. If you see something suspicious, call us,” stated Xavier Morales, Chief Patrol Agent of the Ramey Sector. Ramey Border Patrol agents have apprehended 531 aliens so far this fiscal year.

On. Sep. 12, a citizen called Ramey Sector Radio after observing an abandoned “yola” type vessel near the beach in Hatillo. 

Hatillo Municipal Police, PRPD FURA units and Border Patrol Agents arrived and started an extensive search.  

After a few hours, agents apprehended 20 aliens, 16 men and 4 women, claiming to be nationals of the Dominican Republic were transported to the Ramey Border Patrol Station for immigration processing.  Two aliens are at a local hospital for treatment. 

To date Border Patrol has apprehended and processed 531 aliens throughout Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, 26% of whom have prior criminal history.   

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 one 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: May 13, 2021