Already this week we have previously reported on the realDR.com of one "yola"/launch boat full of Dominican people trying to reach Puerto Rica and now again in La Romana two more boats each containing 32 people have been brought back by the U.S. Coastguard and the Dominican Marine Corps.  One boat was detained 9 miles from Soana island while the other was still close to the shore in Mayaguez.

(The boat from last Wednseday contained 137 people, 94 men and 43 women all still in good health despite their recent  trauma of sea and rescue).

In La Romana the people detained mostly originated from Nague and Villa Tapia, most people also having paid between RD$20,000 and RD$40,000 each for their passage to illegal travel organisers.

One woman interviewed, Milagros Pena said to reporters that she had no option left but to risk her life as she had been jobless for 8 months, and just out of sheer desperation saw no alternative but to go on this voyage. She was hoping to pick up work in Puerto Rico.

The 25 foot boat she was travelling on also contained a pregnant woman who was later detained in Mayaguez hospital for treatment.

The second boat contained 75 Dominicans and 2 Haitians and they were all aboard a 30 foot long boat.