4 Boats Carrying Migrants Detained Off San Diego Shore

SAN DIEGO, CA — Twenty-nine migrants suspected of attempting to enter the country illegally by boat were detained off the San Diego shore in four incidents over three days last week, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.

The most recent incident occurred shortly after 4 a.m. Friday when a Coast Guard boarding team interdicted 15 migrants about 16 miles offshore, according to a USCG statement.

"Coast Guard Cutter David Duren crew members detected a suspicious vessel and launched a boat crew to investigate," the statement said. "The vessel, a 30-foot cabin cruiser, attempted to flee, but stopped shortly afterwards with no use of force necessary."

Boarding team members found 15 people on the boat, all claiming Mexican nationality, officials said. They were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents at Ballast Point.

On Thursday afternoon, Coast Guard boarding teams interdicted six migrants shortly after 4:30 p.m.

"Watchstanders detected a vessel, Down Time, crossing north into U.S. waters. A boarding team from Coast Guard Cutter David Duren was actively boarding another vessel, Flying Fish, when they were diverted to intercept," according to a statement. "David Duren's boarding team interdicted Down Time without use of force necessary and identified three suspected aliens aboard, two claiming Mexican nationality, and one making separate claims of United States and Mexican nationality."

Meanwhile, a boarding team from a Coast Guard Maritime Security and Safety Team was deployed to finish the boarding of Flying Fish and escort the boat to port.

"During escort, Flying Fish altered course back south and increased speed to evade the MSST boarding team," the statement said. "The team employed gradual use of force, which resulted in disabling fire to stop the engines and gain control of the vessel."

The MSST boarding team identified three migrants aboard, all claiming Mexican nationality. All six of the detainees were also transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody at Ballast Point.

On Wednesday at about 8:30 a.m., a Coast Guard boarding team interdicted eight migrants three miles offshore after the Joint Harbor Operations Center identified a suspicious vessel and diverted a boat crew from Station San Diego to intercept, according to the USCG.

The vessel complied with no use of force necessary. Boarding team members identified eight people on board, all claiming Mexican nationality. They were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol personnel.

— City News Service