CBP San Juan Field Office Emphasizes Maritime Reporting Compliance

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Juan Field Office, with jurisdiction over Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is issuing a firm reminder to the boating community regarding mandatory requirements for reporting arrival into the United States. During this fiscal year, CBP has seized 3 vessels and issued multiple penalties across Puerto Rico to operators who failed to report their arrival as required by federal law.

The mandatory reporting of arrival is a critical component of U.S. border security. These inspections allow CBP officers to verify the identity of all travelers, ensure that every alien entering the country is properly vetted, and prevent the facilitation of illegal immigration or the entry of prohibited items into the United States. Vessel operators are reminded that they must present all travelers for inspection at a CBP port of entry as required by law.

The Reporting Offsite Arrival-Mobile (ROAM) application is a secure, mobile-based tool designed to streamline the reporting process for travelers entering the United States by small vessels. To use the program, travelers create a profile within the application, inputting their vessel and passenger information. Upon arrival, they submit their trip details to CBP. The application then provides a response: either an approval to proceed or a notification requiring the vessel and all travelers to report to a designated CBP port of entry for an in-person inspection. If the application is unavailable, operators must immediately report to the nearest CBP port of entry.

Failure to report arrival is a violation of federal law under Title 19, United States Code, Section 1436. Violators face significant civil penalties, starting at $5,000 for the first offense and $10,000 for subsequent offenses. Furthermore, vessels used in the commission of these violations are subject to seizure and forfeiture by the federal government. Ignorance of these regulations does not exempt operators from enforcement actions. CBP has also seized multiple vessels and issued multiple penalties, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, due to vessel operators' failure to report their arrival.

"CBP is committed to ensuring the security of our maritime borders," said the Acting Director of Field Operations for the San Juan Field Office, Efrain Rivas. "The ROAM program is a tool for facilitating legitimate travel, but it requires full cooperation. Failure to comply with reporting requirements carries severe consequences, including the assessment of penalties and the seizure of the vessel."

The boating community must review all reporting requirements by visiting the official CBP website or contacting their local port of entry. CBP remains dedicated to educating the public while maintaining the integrity of our borders through rigorous enforcement.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 70,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.