Coast Guard Intercepts 18 Migrants Offshore
- U.S. Coast Guard boarded and intercepted a small vessel carrying migrants near San Clemente Island without using force. - The boarding team took 18 migrants into custody and ensured the vessel complied with safety regulations. - The incident underscores ongoing maritime migration pressures off San Diego and prompted a Coast Guard response (patch.com).
A U.S. Coast Guard boarding team intercepted a small boat carrying 18 migrants about 30 miles south of San Clemente Island this week. (news.uscg.mil) The Coast Guard said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations alerted the Joint Harbor Operations Center at about 9:30 a.m. Monday, and the cutter Terrell Horne was diverted to stop the vessel. (news.uscg.mil) The boarding team gained compliance without force, checked the boat for safety issues, and transferred all 18 people to U.S. Border Patrol custody at Ballast Point in San Diego. The Coast Guard said the group claimed Mexican nationality. (news.uscg.mil) San Clemente Island sits off the Southern California coast, and the waters south of it have become a regular route for maritime smuggling attempts aimed at San Diego County. In late February, federal authorities said they intercepted about 60 migrants on five boats off the same coastline over one weekend. (nbcsandiego.com) The federal response has expanded alongside that traffic. In March, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said joint operations with the Coast Guard and Navy apprehended 82 people in several maritime smuggling attempts off Southern California. (cbp.gov) The Coast Guard also said in 2025 that it was increasing its operational presence near the southwest border and maritime approaches, including San Diego, with added assets and personnel. (news.uscg.mil) For now, the San Clemente Island case ended without injuries or a chase. The 18 migrants are now in Border Patrol custody, and the interception adds to a steady run of small-boat cases off San Diego. (news.uscg.mil; cbp.gov)
