Saturday, March 24, 2001

By Scott Schonauer
Rota bureau

Fito Carreto / Courtesy of Diario de Cadiz Moroccan and Algerian refugees who washed ashore at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Thursday are held at Guardia Civil headquarters in downtown Rota.

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain — U.S. and Spanish security forces captured 22 Moroccan and Algerian refugees whose small boat slipped into protected waters and washed ashore within yards of the base admiral’s house Thursday.

Spanish security discovered the boat around 5 a.m., and U.S. security, along with military working dogs, swiftly helped catch the refugees on the base, according to sources familiar with the operation.

U.S. patrol personnel found seven of the refugees: three at the base pizza shop, three near the Marine-guarded Naval Security Group Activity building and one outside the Navy Exchange warehouse. Spanish and U.S. security together rounded up the rest.

The Spanish navy refused to release details of the operation and asked U.S. base officers and public affairs personnel to keep it quiet.

Although U.S. military personnel represent the majority at the naval station, the Spanish military is the ultimate authority. U.S. security personnel patrol within the base gates, but it is the responsibility of Spanish security to protect the perimeter.

"We assisted in it, but it’s not our jurisdiction," said Chief Petty Officer Jon McMillan, a base spokesman.

Although witnesses said security personnel reacted quickly, the incident will likely put scrutiny on how the boat initially eluded Spanish security and how the refugees nearly escaped. U.S. military installations have beefed up pier security since the October terrorist bombing of the USS Cole killed 17 sailors and injured 39.

This is the second time in 18 months that immigrants have washed ashore at the base. In September 1999, Spanish and U.S. security caught 17 Moroccan men and women after they washed ashore in a small motorboat. Several tried to flee by scaling a chain-link fence surrounding the base.

Each year, thousands of illegal immigrants from Morocco attempt to cross the Strait of Gibraltar and reach the Spanish coast. Hundreds — many of whom cannot swim — have drowned trying to cross in small wooden boats.

Although Spanish unemployment is one of the highest in Europe, illegal immigrants come to Spain for the manual labor jobs that are available.

Spanish authorities have tried to crack down on the wave of illegal immigrants from northern Africa, but dozens of people slip through and avoid arrest and certain deportation.

However, it is rare that refugees successfully steer around the southern tip of Spain and reach as far north as the cities of Cadiz and Rota.

On Thursday, Spanish security found the refugees’ boat just north of the pier near the Spanish admiral’s living quarters. The pier is on the shoreline that is part of the base.

A U.S. servicemember near the pier reported seeing a group of the illegal immigrants shortly after Spanish security put out the alert. Moments later, two military construction workers in the area reported seeing another refugee near Camp Mitchell, home of rotating Navy construction battalions. They helped U.S. security forces apprehend them, base sources said.

Throughout the day, helicopters circled the base as security personnel searched for more refugees.

The base’s American radio station, 102.5 FM, broke into its regular programming to warn personnel that a group of refugees could be on the loose on base. The bulletin asked military members and their families to report anybody suspicious but not to approach them.

"Do not put yourself in harm’s way," the disc jockey said on air.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Edward Couto heard the report while in his yard with his wife. He said he was worried about refugees hiding out in base housing.

"Breaking into my house — that’s what I’m concerned about," he said.

Security personnel stopped searching around 11 a.m., but base sources said supervisors advised them to be aware of more possible illegal immigrants.

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