SAN DIEGO (AP) — Federal officials on Monday charged a man believed to be the captain of a boat carrying migrants that capsized near San Diego, killing four passengers. The man, a Mexican national, was charged with two counts of bringing people into the country illegally.
U.S. Border Patrol agents were notified at about 11:30 p.m. Friday of a small boat crossing the international maritime boundary between Mexico and the U.S. The Border Patrol found the wooden skiff in the surf off Imperial Beach after it had overturned in high waves. Six people were found on the beach just before midnight, one of whom was pronounced dead and another who was rescued after being found under the boat.
About two hours later, authorities received a report of someone in the water near Imperial Beach Pier. A Coast Guard crew responded and found three dead people in the ocean. The five survivors were transported to a hospital for treatment.
According to the complaint, several passengers reported that the boat experienced engine problems and they urged the captain to return to Mexico, but he refused. One man was trapped inside the cabin when the boat capsized and submerged, while another was injured by a piece of metal from the vessel.
The suspected captain faces severe consequences, including life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon remarked on the dangers of maritime smuggling, stating that those responsible for such tragedies will face the fullest extent of the law.
There’s an alarming rise in the number of migrants resorting to perilous sea routes to evade heavily monitored land borders, especially off the California coast, which has seen several similar incidents in recent years.
U.S. Border Patrol agents were notified at about 11:30 p.m. Friday of a small boat crossing the international maritime boundary between Mexico and the U.S. The Border Patrol found the wooden skiff in the surf off Imperial Beach after it had overturned in high waves. Six people were found on the beach just before midnight, one of whom was pronounced dead and another who was rescued after being found under the boat.
About two hours later, authorities received a report of someone in the water near Imperial Beach Pier. A Coast Guard crew responded and found three dead people in the ocean. The five survivors were transported to a hospital for treatment.
According to the complaint, several passengers reported that the boat experienced engine problems and they urged the captain to return to Mexico, but he refused. One man was trapped inside the cabin when the boat capsized and submerged, while another was injured by a piece of metal from the vessel.
The suspected captain faces severe consequences, including life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon remarked on the dangers of maritime smuggling, stating that those responsible for such tragedies will face the fullest extent of the law.
There’s an alarming rise in the number of migrants resorting to perilous sea routes to evade heavily monitored land borders, especially off the California coast, which has seen several similar incidents in recent years.
