Eighty-five migrants were repatriated to the Dominica Republic on Saturday, December 2, following two interdictions by members of the U.S Coast Guard in the Mona Passage, off the west coast of Puerto Rico.

In a statement on Monday, December 4, the US Coast Guard said the crew of the cutter Joseph Napier interdicted a makeshift vessel with 35 migrants, approximately 33 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, November 29.

On board the vessel were 29 migrants who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals, and six other migrants who claimed to be Haitian nationals.

On Thursday, November 30, the crew of the coast guard cutter Donald Horsley interdicted a 30-foot makeshift vessel with 50 migrants, approximately six nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Forty-eight of the migrants claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals, and two others who claimed to be Haitian nationals.

The U.S Coast Guard is cautioning individuals against venturing on illegal voyages which places their lives at risk.

Between October 1 and November 30, the coast guard carried out 14 unlawful irregular migration voyage interdictions in the Mona Passage and waters near Puerto Rico.

Interdicted during this period are 475 non-U.S. citizens, including 461 Dominicans and 14 Haitians.