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 discovered on the beach just before midnight; one was pronounced dead, while another was rescued from beneath the boat.
Two hours later, authorities received word of someone in the water near Imperial Beach Pier. A Coast Guard crew found three individuals in the ocean, all deceased.
The five survivors were taken to a hospital for treatment. The complaint stated that several passengers reported engine problems, urging the captain to return to Mexico, but he refused. One individual was trapped inside the cabin when the boat overturned and submerging took place with him and several others inside. Border Patrol agents managed to flip the boat over to rescue him. Another survivor suffered an injury when trapped under the vessel transmitted a piece of metal through his leg.
The suspected captain could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. The U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon remarked, “Maritime smuggling is extremely dangerous, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law every individual responsible for these preventable tragedies.”
Another individual onboard was charged for attempting to re-enter the U.S. illegally after being deported multiple times, with the most recent incident occurring on November 3 this year.
As border enforcement intensifies, migrants are increasingly opting for risky sea routes to avoid heavily fortified land borders. Vessels depart from Mexico under the cover of night, often making perilous journeys extending hundreds of miles northward. Recent years have seen multiple mishaps involving migrant vessels capsizing during such treacherous journeys.
The Border Patrol found the wooden skiff in the surf off Imperial Beach after it had overturned in high waves. Six people were discovered on the beach just before midnight; one was pronounced dead, while another was rescued from beneath the boat.
Two hours later, authorities received word of someone in the water near Imperial Beach Pier. A Coast Guard crew found three individuals in the ocean, all deceased.
The five survivors were taken to a hospital for treatment. The complaint stated that several passengers reported engine problems, urging the captain to return to Mexico, but he refused. One individual was trapped inside the cabin when the boat overturned and submerging took place with him and several others inside. Border Patrol agents managed to flip the boat over to rescue him. Another survivor suffered an injury when trapped under the vessel transmitted a piece of metal through his leg.
The suspected captain could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. The U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon remarked, “Maritime smuggling is extremely dangerous, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law every individual responsible for these preventable tragedies.”
Another individual onboard was charged for attempting to re-enter the U.S. illegally after being deported multiple times, with the most recent incident occurring on November 3 this year.
As border enforcement intensifies, migrants are increasingly opting for risky sea routes to avoid heavily fortified land borders. Vessels depart from Mexico under the cover of night, often making perilous journeys extending hundreds of miles northward. Recent years have seen multiple mishaps involving migrant vessels capsizing during such treacherous journeys.
