Caribbean CBP Operation Named in Court Documents
CBP agents are currently engaged in "Operation Eastern Front" in the Caribbean
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are engaged in a mission called “Operation Eastern Front” in the Caribbean, according to court documents reviewed by Heavy Weather. Agents assigned to the operation have detained 10 alleged undocumented immigrants and a Puerto Rican man who was allegedly transporting them from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the archipelago in July.
Outside of mentioning the name and that several people were detained on immigration-related charges, the court records do not provide more details about Operation Eastern Front or its remit. The name has not been previously reported.
The name “Operation Eastern Front” comes from two affidavits signed by Border Patrol Agent Luis Polo. Both affidavits relate to two alleged undocumented immigrants encountered by CBP at Culebrita island, an uninhabited island off the coast of the island municipality of Culebra. The two were part of a group that Gregory Vega de Jesús, a Puerto Rican man, was allegedly taking them from USVI to Culebra. Per the affidavit relating to Vega de Jesús's arrest, he allegedly forced the group to jump into the water near Culebrita when he saw lights in the distance. Per the court records, none of the migrants had flotation devices and one Indian immigrant "looked like she might drown," requiring another immigrant help her stay above the water until they reached the shoreline. Vega de Jesus's arrest has been previously reported by the St. Thomas Source.
The group consisted of one Dominican immigrant, four Indian immigrants and five Ecuadorian immigrants, according to Vega de Jesus's affidavit. One of the migrants detained by CBP at Culebrita was an Ecuadorian citizen who had been deported six times and filed for asylum at least twice then withdrawn the petition, per the court records. Another immigrant, the only Dominican one there, had been previously deported after being convicted of possession to distribute heroin. Heavy Weather is not sharing the two affidavits that name the two alleged undocumented immigrants to protect their identities. Both were charged with re-entry after being removed.
While Vega de Jesús’s affidavit does not mention “Operation Eastern Front,” a court record from one of the migrants mentions that he was charged in connection to the same events as described in the migrants’ affidavits, which does mention “Operation Eastern Front.”
One of the five Ecuadorian immigrants had traveled through several Latin American and Caribbean countries in hopes of reaching his final destination of Minneapolis, Minnesota, according tot he court records. He had arranged to pay a total of $18,000 and had already paid $15,000. It's unclear if this is the same Ecuadorian immigrant who was charged with re-entry.
When questioned about the operation, a CBP spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending criminal affidavits or cases to assure that rights are fully protected and due process is observed. His response did not acknowledge the existence of the operation, when it started or its objective.
Border Patrol and Air & Marine Office Marine Interdiction Agents participated in detaining Vega de Jesús, per the court records.
The only other mention of “Eastern Front” I could find that related to CBP comes from press releases from 2016, which detail a “Campaign Eastern Front” undertaken by Border Patrol agents in East County in San Diego, California. The now-ten year old press release says the operation would continue indefinitely. However, it’s not clear if there is any connection between the two operations save for them having almost the same name.
In 2016, Border Patrol agents from San Diego engaged in “Campaign Eastern Front,” ostensibly aimed at combating “criminal smuggling operations” in East County in San Diego, California, according to a CBP press release. The now-ten year old notice said that it would continue indefinitely. However, it’s not clear if there is any connection between the 2016 Campaign Eastern Front in California and Operation Eastern Front in the Caribbean.
Since the start of its deportation campaign, the Trump administration has continuously portrayed itself as if it's at war with immigrants and ICE and CBP as its footsoldiers. Former Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino said “to preserve our culture and our homeland, the war is here, and its immigration-related" on a podcast per MS Now. The name “Eastern Front” certainly brings up the idea of famous wars throughout time, particularly World War 2’s eastern front where the Soviet Union fought the Nazis until the latter was defeated. It is widely considered the deadliest conflict in human history.
