Published: May 19, 2010
Updated: 12:01 p.m.

Border Patrol detains 7 in Newport Harbor

By JEFF OVERLEY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

NEWPORT BEACH – U.S. Border Patrol agents working in tandem with the Orange County Harbor Patrol on Tuesday detained seven men suspected of being illegal immigrants, said Daryl Reed, spokesman for the federal agency.

Four men were detained after noticing agents and "acting suspiciously" by disembarking from their vessel, and three others were detained after a routine boat stop in Newport Harbor, Reed said.

Orange County Harbor Patrol officials were coordinating with U.S. Harbor Patrol agents as part of Operation Stonegarden.

BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The watercraft were not being used as part of an immigrant-smuggling operation, Reed said, adding that Border Patrol agents handled the questioning, not local law enforcement.

The cooperation between the agenices is part of Operation Stonegarden, a federal program designed to "provide funding to designated localities to enhance cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States Southwest Border," according to an official description.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7952 or joverley@ocregister.com

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