Coast Guard's San Diego Sector Stops Panga Carrying 15 Migrants

SAN DIEGO, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard's San Diego Sector stopped a boat carrying 15 suspected migrants about 24 miles southwest of San Clemente Island, officials said.

Personnel from the San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center received a report at 9:43 p.m. Monday of an unidentified vessel sailing toward U.S. waters, according to the Coast Guard.

Crew members from the Coast Guard Cutter David Duren boarded the panga with "no use of force being necessary," officials said.

"The asset that originally reported the vessel later noted that it appeared to have lost propulsion for an unknown reason," the Coast Guard said in a statement.

All 15 people aboard the vessel claimed Mexican nationality. They were transported by the Coast Guard to another Department of Homeland Security agency at Ballast Point.