Two people were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry into the United States on Thursday, May 8, 2025, reportedly shortly after their arrival on St John, US Virgin Islands (USVI). Photo: VIC/File

According to court documents, last Thursday Customs and Border Protection officials reportedly became aware that undocumented migrants had landed on St. John, and Homeland Security Investigations agents deployed to intercept them.

Two women were apprehended. Isauri LaPaix, whose pants were wet when apprehended, reportedly confessed to landing on St John without going through official channels. She had flown from the Dominican Republic to Tortola in the Virgin Islands earlier that day, Ms LaPaix said, and crossed over to St John by boat.

Marlenis Pena Pena, another national of the Dominican Republic, chose not to speak to law enforcement officials. The two women were arrested and charged with illegal entry into the United States.

Both appeared before District Court Magistrate Alan Teague, who granted them bail in the form of a $5000 unsecured bond. Ms LaPaix has a further bond hearing scheduled for Tuesday.