PR-BPAUX Agent Joel R and K9 Agent "Chiqui"
Illegal Immigration in Puerto Rico? Si!
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico---A rickety, fifty-foot wooden fishing boat or “Yola” drifts in the Caribbean about twenty nautical miles north of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. Onboard are 120 men and 37 women, all refugees from the Dominican Republic and all illegally attempting to enter the Untied States by way of the island.
These 157 souls are actually the lucky ones though few of them would agree. For openers, it cost them each about $450 for the nightmare cruise but many simply perish as the boats, grossly overloaded, often wind up in the briney deep and not on the shores of America as the travelers had hoped. Some are adrift for days or weeks until they are found with the occupants sometimes resorting to cannibalism to survive. In one such group, according to a 2004 NY Times Report, survivors attacked and killed lactating women for their breast milk. These are desperate people.
This group however, was caught by the CBIG or Caribbean Border Interagency Group. In July 2006, CBIG was formally created to unify efforts of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), (ICE), the District Attorney of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid action (FURA). Their common goal is securing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal maritime traffic and gaining control of our nation's Caribbean borders.
Ten of the individuals were held for multiple violations and one was a wanted felon. The remaining 146 were repatriated to Dominican Republic Naval authorities later in the day.
The situation in the Dominican Republic is desperate and for many, this is a last chance effort at survival. Dozens of boats filled with people are spotted each week and turned back.
When Americans think of Illegal Immigration, few would conjure up a vision of “boat people” from the Dominican Republic. This however is a very real issue for Puerto Rico and the United States as gaining access to the Island is the same as jumping the fence in Arizona and getting away with it.
In 2008, citizens stepped forward to assist the Border Patrol in their efforts. The Puerto Rican Chapter of the Border Patrol Auxiliary (BPAUX) has approximately 30 volunteer members who patrol the beaches, day and night looking for boats full of drugs or people that sneak through.
Chapter Secretary & Leader Joel R. helped organize the volunteers who also teach students about a “drug free community”. The BPAUX Agents work closely with local police and have a K9 drug dog named “Chiqui” who assists them in their efforts. The unit is not related to the Border Patrol or the Department of Homeland Security. It is part of the California based Homeland Security Policy Institute Group.
“We are proud to be citizen border watchers helping the Border Patrol secure America.” Joel said. “We are like a neighborhood watch program. We observe illegal traffic, report it to the authorities and direct them to the location of the illegal activity,” he added.
There is apparently much work to do as The Ramey (Puerto Rican) sector of the Border Patrol arrests thousands of would-be border crossers each year with most being returned to their home countries. It is the only station located outside of the continental United States and has responsibility for some 8,760 square miles of coastal waters in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Local authorities recently received $500,000 in funding from DHS Operation Stonegarden to assist them in working more closely with Border Patrol.
Illegal immigration is not a new phenomenon for Puerto Rico. For centuries Chinese and even Irish immigrants settled here illegally. Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the US in 1898 after the Spanish American War. It has seen refugees from most of its neighbors whenever economic or political strife intercedes. Cubans, Haitians and others have sought safety here from time to time. Puerto Rico, though often lost in the battle of illegal immigration, is on the front lines it seems and DHS is putting more and more resources behind it.
For more info: If you liked this story you might also like:
ICE Unit Targets Gangbangers. Arrest 29 in Las Vegas
President Obama tells Mexico he will begin seeking immigration reform this year
Who gets hurt? Is Illegal Immigration a victimless crime? Part IV
Comments
Yes,Illegal Immigration is an issue that exist in Puerto Rico. It's the third border you can say. It's horrible,because the Insular government is doing nothing, nor is the United States doing anything themselves, granted, the United states can't seem to do anything to preserve their own union, so why would they preserve Puerto Rico?? I use to sympathise with Illegal Imgigrants, but I can't any longer. It's a horrible feeling when you can see and feel the foundations of your identity crumbling, yet no one else can see or feel it, or if they do they're simply indifferent. They're defiling my beautiful Island.
What foundations of your identity? McDonald's? Burger King? The "American/European" hotel industry? The foundations of our identity have been crumbling over and over for decades, if not centuries, and no one seems to be doing anything about it. It's called evolution. When was the last time you ate "funche con bacalao"? Go read your history book, charlatan. As long as the foundations of your identity are pushed around by blond blue eyed green wads of dollars or euros, you don't complain. As soon as illegal immigrants from a sister island comes begging for help, food, shelter, then you open your mouth to say something like "I can't any longer sympathize with illegal immigrants." Go to church and pray for them is what you have to do. I'll go to church and pray for them and for people like you too.
And again it takes the private sector to step up to do what our government refuses to do! Thanks to all of you in PR that are doing this fine effort! Thank you very much for the service you provide to the fine people of PR.
OPINION-
Julia- It is clear that there are many humanitarian efforts that are underway in PR as well as here in the US Mainland. THe people who come into our country illegally are the result to failing countries to provide for themselves. Countries around the world experience this all the time. It is the responsibility of those governments to take care of them, Not the US nor any other country.
I hope I did not mis-read your comment
Respectfully,
If you re-read my comment, I was ticked for his blaming the immigration from the Dominican Republic for our "crumbling foundations of identity". I guess I forgot to mention Walmart, and Sams, and all the other things that have happened to our island that have definitely defiled who we are as a people. Yet, we don't complain because we embrace change, with or without defiling, that will give us comfort. Don't blame the illegal immigrants for that. As to your statement about the U.S. not being responsible for some of the things that happen in other countries, I would reassess that point of view. If the U.S. had not embraced China and all the cheap labor and products that they could get from them without caring how much that would affect the foundations of the American identity, things on this side of the globe would probably be better. And that is just one little point to be made in regard to international responsibility. As for us Puerto Ricans, pity how we trashed N.Y. in the 50's.
Funche con bacalao? Julia, you seem to be quoting stories from your great-grandparents. And you sound more like a "patriotera" more than a true patriot. Immigrants are not an issue, ILLEGAL immigrants are. If we were to kick all immigrants out of the USA, we will be left with a population of Natives or Indians - not that I mind that as a bad idea. Do not blame McDonald's or Wal-Mart for the world woes. Capitalism is the foundation of America. It works and will always work better than any other system. (Last time I checked, no one was boarding a plane, ship or any other transport OUT of USA.) On the other hand, greed and ignorance are problems affecting us all. One thing I also noted; the doors at the borders can easily be PUSHED OPEN if you want out. So, if you do not like it here, feel free to use that built-in feature. For those coming in, do it the legal way or face the consequences.
Mr. Mendez, it is customary of close minded people to respond to a comment with another comment that does not address the original one. Hence, we have your comment in response to mine. First of all, I am a United States citizen, and my passport is as valid as that of anyone born in the mainland. I am very proud to be a citizen of the United States; which does not mean that I wear a blindfold and swear by everything that men and women have done in the name of the U.S.A. I am a woman of the 21st century and as such can praise what I believe is good and rebel at what I believe is bad. The U.S. government and many of their citizens are assessing now the damages done nationally and internationally by decision makers in the past.We are now patching up things, so to speak. And it's natural, it's history in the making, again.I was not blaming "Walmart"; I was blaming the Puerto Ricans themselves who disregard the stories of their grandparents, the foundation of their identity.
Thanks to all Americans to support our effort in PR boder, we the PR Border Patrol Auxiliary.org work for service the US territory.
Hey, Julia first of all the fact that we are a commonwealth has nothing to do with the "crumbling of our foundations". Luis Munoz Marin was a great man, and he gave us self government, he gave us food, he gave us shelter, health care, and he gave us a sense of mission. But he served a Puerto Rican populace who is very unappreciative. He would be rolling in his grave, if he can see what Modern Day Puerto Rico looks like. Youths acting American Ghetto, pretending to be black dancing, singing Reggaeton. And Yes, the Dominicans who are defliling the Island and no one in Puerto Rico is doing anything. All stand indifferent. I say Luis Munoz Marin served the wrong people. He would have been unique in any country, not just modest size Puerto Rico. It's a shame he died in vain.
Im just glad that there are organizations who are cracking down on Illegal Immigration. It infects countries and different cultures. And it must be stopped.
Sue these idiots just like the klan.
What a freakin joke.
All these groups have inspired me... I think I'll start my own group. The FBI Reserves. We will all wear trench coats, have badges and carry pistols. We will investigate crime all around this great country of ours and prevent terrorism and gang activity ( along with drug use, drunk driving, illegal immigration, counterfeiting, staying up past your bed time and teenage pregnancy) through vigilance.
I need to fill vacant slots for the ranks of General Field Marshal, Captain Manager, Lance Sergeant Overseer, and Special Private Agent. Anyone interested? Mulder and Scully have already agreed to be Honorary Agents in Charge.
Of course the FBI Reserves will be a private non-profit charitable organization that has no connection or affiliation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the United States government.... or reality... or common sense...
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!