The bodies of five Haitian migrants were recovered Thursday morning from waters off Mona Island, an uninhabited land mass between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard located 66 survivors safely on the island, including two minors. Human smugglers dumped the migrants on the high seas on Thursday morning, the Coast Guard said. The sun sets over Mona Island, an uninhabited landmass between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. (David S. Holloway/Getty Images) An increasing number of Haitians have been making the dangerous trip to the Caribbean in recent months as gang violence has increased in their country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse last July. COAST GUARD STOPS RECORD NUMBER OF HUGE MIGRANTS OFF FLORIDA COAST UN Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson said this week that the problems in Haiti “are compounded by poverty, a lack of basic services, including security, and a recent increase in violence.” From July 8 to 17, more than 471 people were killed, injured or missing in Haiti, the UN said. The U.S. Coast Guard Ship Bernard C. Webber departs the Coast Guard Base, Monday, July 19, 2021, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) A boat bound for Miami capsized off the Bahamas on Sunday, killing 17 Haitian migrants. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP More than 6,100 Haitian immigrants have been stopped by the Coast Guard since last October, a sharp increase from the 1,527 Haitian immigrants stopped in fiscal year 2021 and the 418 stopped in fiscal year 2020. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Paul Best is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.
