The U.S. Coast Guard in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office prevented a boat carrying 24 people from reaching the shores of West Palm Beach on November 25, 2017. The passengers hailed from such diverse ports of call as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, China, Bolivia, Ecuador and even Azerbaijan. Six of these individuals were arrested. The others were turned over to the Department of Homeland Security for further action by officials within that agency.

Human Smuggling Suspected

Of the six arrests made by federal officials at the time the boat was intercepted, four were the result of individuals attempting to reenter the country after previous deportations from the U.S. The other two people arrested, Jean Pascal and Hinlo Saintil, were charged with conspiracy to aid or assist a criminal alien to enter the U.S. and attempted alien smuggling for profit. Saintil had previously been convicted of conspiracy to import a large quantity of marijuana into the U.S. and is a convicted felon who was deported in 2011. He will also face charges of reentry after deportation.

Boat Owner Held Responsible for Illegal Acts

Pascal, who was the owner and captain of the boat, initially claimed that he had rescued the passengers from a damaged boat in the Atlantic Ocean. He then proceeded to take them to the U.S. despite being aware that these individuals could not enter the country legally. Two of the passengers who were arrested had felony convictions in their criminal history. One had been previously arrested for a hit-and-run that resulted in a fatality; the other had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Avoiding Deportation

If you or any member of your family is currently dealing with immigration issues, contacting a West Palm Beach deportation lawyer can provide you with added support throughout your efforts to achieve permanent residence in the U.S. Attempting to enter the U.S. illegally can often lead to immediate deportation, which could reduce your ability to achieve legal residency in the future.

Calling the experts at Pozo Goldstein is a solid first step toward resolving your immigration issues. By retaining the services of a West Palm Beach deportation lawyer in our office, you can put the odds in your favor when working toward lawful permanent resident status. Give us a call at 561-578-4977 to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with our team of immigration attorneys. We look forward to the chance to serve you.