Nearly 130 residents in Old San Juan met Thursday and urged officials to take action to control the behavior of tourists and visitors who refuse to comply with Covid-19 protocols. Business magazine Fast Company has recognized Discover Puerto Rico in the Travel and Hospitality category of its Worlds Most Innovative Companies ranking for 2023. But to Velzquez, the main point is that Congress should not be privileging one status option over another when its still a live debate on the island. The accolade, which in the past has been awarded to notable companies such as SpaceX, Warner Media and Microsoft, is specifically for the success of the destination marketing organizations Live Boricua campaign in promoting Puerto Rican culture as a unique selling point of the island. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This is the first part of a series where youll get an inside look at USERTfrom their rigorous training to tools of the trade. On May 31, 2019, authorities in Puerto Rico issued an . A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Additional information about the U.S. Who am I to tell any of my family whats right for them? she says. indicated Carmona Serrano was residing in Puerto Rico, acting as a 2021 News is My Business. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico On March 29, 2021, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six-count indictment charging 25 gang members with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and aiding and abetting in the possession/distribution of controlled substances, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company announced this week that it launched an English-language educational campaign to alert tourists of the island's Covid-19 restrictions and the consequences of not following the rules. Unless otherwise stated, photos Big Stock Photography Dreamstime Photos Google Maps Thompson Reuters. On May 31, 2019, authorities in Puerto Rico issued an arrest warrant for Lopez-Alameda, charging him with first-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons violations. Especially on the weekends, people go on until 1, 2, even 3 a.m. The island currently has a midnight curfew. This was an amazing and informative guide! Were seeing a chaotic situation, something we havent seen before, Oscar Medina, a San Juan resident, told WKAQ, the local TV news station from NBC's sister network Telemundo in Puerto Rico. In 2019 came a protest movement leading to the resignation of Gov. Violent Crimes - Murders. They provided no additional information about the homicide. Marshal for This arrest operation spotlights the hard work and dedicated partnership between federal and state law enforcement agencies, said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. "I don't have a problem with people trying to have a good time, but they have to be respectful. Two Individuals and a Healthcare Management Company Indicted for Bankruptcy Fraud, Money Laundering, PPP Fraud, and Bank Fraud, 02.23.2023 The Live Boricua campaign has conveyed some of the islands culture to potential visitors worldwide, resulting in an economic boost for the islands visitor economy. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) Mayagez Strike Force investigated the case. They have a sense of entitlement and apathy I don't understand. San Juan metro area. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Illegal appropriations are the most common property crimes in Puerto Rico. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Firearm Possession; Gang Membership; Narcotics, Immigration Authority Delegation Program 287(g). As part of the conspiracy, the members of the drug trafficking gang established drug points that moved within different areas inside the public housing project to avoid police detection. The political future of Puerto Rico has been hotly debated for decades. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The 29-year-old, a nurse and mother of three girls, just wanted to be safe. Carmona Serrano was charged June 3, 2020, with attempted murder by And . Olga D. Wagenheim, et al., "Puerto Rico," britannica.com, June 5, 2021: 30. "This is a clear statement to all fugitives from the law," said U.S. Experts and residents worry that tourists unwillingness to follow Covid-19 measures could reverse the island's successful efforts at containing the virus. Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Misconduct to the Inspector General, USAO Monitor Selection for Corporate Criminal Enforcement. Earlier during the pandemic, most instances of community spread on the island could be linked to Puerto Ricos main airport, mainly from mainland Puerto Ricans traveling to the island, Ramos said. The Marshals will Abraham Villasenor Landa Combating cross-border criminal activity is a critical component of the overall safety, security and well-being of our nation. 130 residents in Old San Juan met Thursday, Police Commissioner Antonio Lpez Figueroa said, Merchants Association of La Placita de Santurce said. the District of Puerto Rico Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra. Adaily email update of the stories you need to read right now. Carmona Serrano was charged June 3, 2020, with attempted murder by Puerto Rico authorities after he shot at a police officer during a traffic stop. Some haulers caught, Arming guidance counselors? Some co-conspirators collected the profits from the drug trafficking sales and traveled within the municipality of Mayagez and other areas nearby to deliver the proceeds to the leaders of the organization. Not again.". Officials said he was wanted in connection with a 2019 homicide in Puerto Rico. "We are doing people-powered journalism. Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website. Being just a two-hour flight from Miami, it's easy to get to. WKAQ-TV (channel 2) is a television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serving as the U.S. territory's dual Telemundo and NBC outlet. HSI thanks our local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their significant cooperation in dismantling this drug trafficking organization.. U.S. One thing the islands factions can probably agree on, from the strongest statehood supporters to the most ardent nationalists, is that framing Puerto Ricos future in terms of what it means for partisan control of Congress is not exactly helpful. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, no passport is required for travel to US Citizens. You can report suspicious activities and crime by contacting your local FBI office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Evaluate Andrs Cuadro's men's volleyball recruiting profile. Opinion has been divided between those who wanted to retain the existing arrangements for governing locally - known as . While police increase their presence, local business owners in Santurce said in a statement they are worried that the issues around tourist behavior and the ensuing crackdown will impact their businesses. Tara O'Neill was formerly a breaking news reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. FBIs Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team, Two Individuals and a Healthcare Management Company Indicted for Bankruptcy Fraud, Money Laundering, PPP Fraud, and Bank Fraud, St. Croix Man Sentenced 150 Months' Incarceration on Home Invasion and Carjacking Conviction, FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice, Municipalities covered: Aguada, Aguadilla, Aasco, Cabo Rojo, Camuy, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Isabela, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Maricao, Mayaguez, Moca, Quebradillas, Rincon, Sabana Grande, San German, and San Sebastin, Municipalities covered: Arroyo, Ceiba, Culebra, Fajardo, Humacao, Juncos, Las Piedras, Luquillo, Maunabo, Naguabo, Patillas, Rio Grande, San Lorenzo, Vieques, and Yabucoa, Municipalities covered: Adjuntas, Aibonito, Barranquitas, Coamo, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Orocovis, Peuelas, Ponce, Salinas, Santa Isabel, Villalba, and Yauco, Territory covered: St. John, St. Thomas, and Water Island. It does seem likely that Puerto Rico would be a mostly blue state for the time being. Marshals Office of Public Affairs (703) 740-1699. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Reviewed 30 August 2021 . What is clear, both from the anti-Rosell movement and from the strong performance of third parties in the 2020 election, is that it has led to widespread frustration at the status quo. A couple of tourists dance on the beach in the tourist zone of El Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday. The campaign was designed to distinguish Puerto Rico from other destinations by highlighting the islands rich historical, gastronomical and musical heritage. It seems like were not responding to the incidents, but we truly are, Police Commissioner Antonio Lpez Figueroa said days earlier about the situation. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection collaborated during the arrests. Some who support independence. Information developed by New York investigators St. Croix Man Sentenced 150 Months' Incarceration on Home Invasion and Carjacking Conviction. . Numerous left-leaning analysts, looking at the long-term disadvantages Democrats face in the House and even more so the Senate, where sparsely populated, rural, red areas are overrepresented, have concluded that it is imperative that the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, presumably blue, be added as states as soon as possible. The administration plans to release $1.3 billion that was meant to help Puerto Rico rebuild after Hurricane Maria in 2017, and will remove restrictions on another $4.9 billion. Marshals Service can be found at https://www.usmarshals.gov. under arrest without incident. Collazo. Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra. But that doesnt mean it would stay that way forever. Other videos show disorderly tourists getting into fights, dancing on top of moving vehicles, and destroying private property around Puerto Ricos metropolitan area, including well-known tourist spots. He was transported to police headquarters and is awaiting extradition to Puerto Rico. Most of the tourists in Old San Juan and Condado act aggressively at night, dont wear their masks and leave their trash behind., Another resident who lives across from an Airbnb apartment in Old San Juan, Evelyn Lpez, said tourists staying there often have loud music, speak loudly and engage in altercations.. It should be noted that Jeffrey Lopez-Alameda was so good at concealing his identity that his neighbors and fiancee were unaware of his real name, the U.S. An AK-47, Glock pistol, narcotics and a large amount of U.S. currency was also found in the residence. ", Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Thanks for signing up! Investigators said Lopez-Alameda fled Puerto Rico after the April 2019 homicide, obtained a stolen social security card and assumed the identity of Radames Negron Gonzalez.. We aim to create a special connection that will lead them to return to our destination.. [+] game-changer for the island's nightlife, events and marketing, Discover Puerto Rico. The islands government was mired in a grinding debt crisisthe result, in large part, of federal economic policieswhich the Obama administration responded to in 2016 by setting up an oversight board to manage Puerto Ricos finances; the board is widely despised on the island as an unelected colonial imposition. In the case of D.C., statehood also aligns with the clearly expressed preference of the place in question. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Puerto Rico QuickFacts Table (a) Includes persons reporting only one race (c) Economic Census - Puerto Rico data are not comparable to U.S. Economic Census data (b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories We encountered an issue signing you up. Statehood opponents say the vote was invalidit wasnt recognized by the U.S. Department of Justiceand point out that turnout was low, at less than 55 percent. The indictment alleges that from in or about the year 2017, to the date of the return of the indictment, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base (commonly known as crack), heroin, cocaine, and marihuana, within 1,000 feet of the Manuel Hernndez Rosa, commonly known as Candelaria, Rafael Hernndez, also known as Kennedy, and El Carmen Public Housing Projects, and other areas in the municipality of Mayagez, all for financial gain and profit. One straightforward solutionsome sayis to restructure things by adding more states. The leaders had final approval authority as to disciplinary action to be imposed upon residents of the Franklin D. Roosevelt PHP and the members of the conspiracy to maintain control of the drug trafficking activities in the area. Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Get FBI email alerts - See 419 traveller reviews, 35 candid photos, and great deals for San Juan, Puerto Rico, at Tripadvisor. Most people speak both English & Spanish. Marshals Service can be found President Joe Biden has been vague but certainly does not seem opposed to the idea. If you have information about the whereabouts of these fugitives, immediately contact your local ICE office or call the national hotline at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE as soon as possible! Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. But neither is the support for any other option. 2008-2023 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved. . Question settled? On January 7, 2020, the Southern District of New York issued an arrest Hartford police worked with U.S. Required fields are marked *. U.S. While the bill is portrayed by opponents as an attempt to block statehood, Velzquez says she is not campaigning for any of the status options. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Some co-conspirators would routinely possess, carry, brandish, and use firearms to protect themselves and their drug trafficking organization. Published December 12, 2021. . He also notes that in Alaska and Hawaii, support for statehood increased dramatically after Congress officially put statehood on the table, making it a viable and realistic option.