Dominican Nationals Sent to U.S. Prison for Human Smuggling

[Judi Lynn]

23 November 2005

Dominican Nationals Sent to U.S. Prison for Human Smuggling
Smuggling operation led to deaths of seven illegal aliens, agency says

By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- A U.S. federal judge in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has handed down prison terms to five natives of the Dominican Republic after they were convicted for human smuggling.

In a November 22 statement, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency said the five Dominicans were indicted in December 2004 following an investigation that indicated the men were responsible for a smuggling scheme involving 93 illegal aliens seeking to reach the north coast of Puerto Rico.

ICE, the investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said the 93 illegal aliens were boarded on an overcrowded, fragile vessel that departed from the Dominican Republic in December 2004. The boat, which was piloted by the convicted Dominicans, capsized. That accident resulted in the deaths of seven passengers on board. U.S. authorities rescued the other passengers.

ICE said that Leonardo Hilario-Hilario, sentenced to 17 years in prison, played a leadership role in the smuggling venture by coordinating via cellular telephone with contacts in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and giving instructions to other boat captains.
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http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=November&x=200511231223131XEneerG0.7924463&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html

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Would you say these people are "fleeing," or "excaping" from their government, or would you say they are economic migrants? This is only one part of Carribean migration we usually don't hear about often.