On January 7, 2020,
a 6.4 magnitude earthquake
hit the south coast of Guanica,
causing severe damage to many buildings
in the southern towns of the island.
The Ponce Marine Unit was not exempt
from the effects of the earthquake.
The intensity of the tremors
caused the foundation below the buildings
in a parking lot to liquefy,
turning ground under the property into mud,
which caused the foundation
to give way up to 18 inches.
The slabs of concrete
in the parking lot began to sink,
as well as the foundation to the main building,
causing the walls to separate.
The extent of the damages
resulted in the building being condemned.
We're here just two years after the crisis breaking ground.
It's actually a pretty impressive thing
and it's a testament
to the people who helped us get here.
This new joint center,
it's a perfect example of the synergy
that the Coast Guard and CBP
have on the island of Puerto Rico
and across the Caribbean.
Working hand in hand,
the Coast Guard and CBP work to keep
U.S. interests in the Caribbean
safe and secure every day.
This is a unique situation
where the Coast Guard issues a contract
using our funding to build the facility
and use their funding to rebuild the grounds.
This facility is going to be one of the
five Marine units for Air and Marine.
It'll be the first one with a permanent complement
of both Coast Guard and Air and Marine personnel
vessels from this pier
are going to be out interdicting,
particularly drug smugglers
that are coming in to the south, Puerto Rico,
and are incredibly important
for stopping huge quantities
of cocaine and other illicit narcotics
coming into this country.
The Ponce Marine Unit has been doing
an outstanding job for the last 25 years,
securing the south coast of Puerto Rico.
The boats right here, as you can see behind me,
we're standing on a pier
where the Ponce Marine Unit will have their boats.
The office is right in front of me.
So their response time will be will be instant.
They can just walk out of the office.
Come here, get on the boats.
It'll be great.