Early Wednesday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a group of 15 individuals suspected of attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea near San Diego, Fox News reports. According to a Coast Guard press release, the incident took place around 4:30 a.m. when a 20-foot cabin-style boat was spotted approximately 10 miles northwest of Point Loma.
The vessel was carrying 11 men and four women, all of whom claimed Mexican nationality. After detaining the group, Coast Guard personnel transferred them to U.S. Border Patrol agents for further processing.
This event comes in the wake of a major immigration enforcement effort in Florida, known as Operation Tidal Wave. That operation resulted in over 1,100 arrests within a single week. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Miami worked closely with local law enforcement agencies during the crackdown.
Within the first four days of Operation Tidal Wave, officials reported nearly 800 arrests. Among those detained were a Colombian national with a murder conviction, alleged members of the MS-13 and 18th Street gangs, and a Russian national wanted by Interpol for manslaughter.
Since President Trump’s inauguration, authorities have apprehended tens of thousands of illegal immigrants. ICE reported that more than 66,000 illegal immigrants were arrested and over 65,000 removed during the first 100 days of the president’s second term. Of those arrested, 2,288 were believed to be affiliated with gangs such as MS-13 and 18th Street.
“In addition to gang members, ICE said more than 1,300 of those arrested were accused or convicted of sex offenses, and 498 were accused or convicted of murder,” according to Fox News.
At a Thursday press conference, ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan emphasized, “If you enter this country illegally, you are a criminal. You will be deported. You will have the opportunity to be able to come back into this country through the correct immigration processes.”
“We are working through those every single day, but our No. 1 goal is to keep the American people safe from the criminals who are walking in this country who never should have been let through in the first place,” Sheahan added.
