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  4. USBP Arrests 21 During Maritime Event

USBP Arrests 21 During Maritime Event

Release Date
Wed, 10/28/2020

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. — San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents arrested 21 migrants Monday who landed their boat at Imperial Beach in south San Diego County.

The event began Monday morning, October 26, at approximately 3:30 a.m., when the Joint Harbor Operations Center (JHOC) reported a panga-style vessel made landfall at the south end of Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach.  Notifying USBP, JHOC relayed that a large number of people had disembarked the vessel and ran towards Seacoast Drive.  Several others in the group ran south towards the Tijuana River Valley.

USBP agents arrested 21 undocumented aliens who illegally entered the U.S. in this panga in Imperial Beach, Calif.USBP agents arrived on scene quickly and located 13 people near the intersection of Seacoast Drive and Encanto Avenue.  Additional agents responded to the area and located eight more people near the intersection of Seacoast Drive and Cortez Avenue.

The 21 individuals were questioned, determined to be illegally present in the U.S., and arrested.  The group included 14 male Mexican nationals, six female Mexican nationals, and one female Guatemalan national.  All 21 individuals were taken to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing.

Two men in the group are facing human smuggling charges.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations agents seized the beached panga.

Chief Patrol Agent Aaron M. Heitke explained, “Smugglers often overcrowd small open bow vessels that are typically unsafe.  Sea conditions, visibility, and weather are not important considerations to smugglers as they place an emphasis on profit over their victims’ safety.”

To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders.  To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.          

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021