Thread: CAL - Felons among illegal immigrants arrested on boat

Felons among illegal immigrants arrested on boat

. . an array of felons previously deported from the United States for offenses ranging from drug possession to murder . .

whittierdailynews.com
Larry Altman, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/26/2012 05:10:16 PM PDT

A boatload of smuggled illegal immigrants who landed on an El Segundo beach last week included an array of felons previously deported from the United States for offenses ranging from drug possession to murder, authorities said.

The passengers braved a night aboard a small fishing boat on rough water in darkness, traveling in the early hours of Wednesday morning beyond Coronado and Catalina islands as they tried to slip undetected from Tijuana to Southern California, a court affidavit said.

Most had intended to pay up to $8,500 to smugglers to bring them to Los Angeles. The affidavit, filed by a sheriff's deputy in U.S. District Court, indicated the boat's pilot and navigators became lost at sea, intending to land in Long Beach or San Pedro.

Instead, they came ashore in front of the NRG power plant in El Segundo, where witnesses spotted them and facility fences prevented them from climbing onto Vista del Mar. Police officers quickly corralled them.

On board the boat were 15 Mexican nationals, including a 14-year-old boy, three Mexican women, one male Salvadoran and one Chinese woman, authorities said.

Seven of the passengers told federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol agents that they began their voyage in Mexico late Tuesday after arranging with smugglers to take them by sea to the United States.

Human-cargo and drug smugglers have recently increased their efforts to enter California from the Pacific to avoid tougher border security on land. Pangas have come ashore in Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes and San Pedro.

In interviews with investigators after their arrests, passengers described how they made their way to El Segundo. Investigators used the information to support smuggling charges against the boat captain and his two navigators on Friday.

One passenger, a man from Guadalajara, told federal agents that his uncle had arranged to pay $7,000 to smugglers to take him to California, plus 800 pesos ($62) for a life vest.

source: Felons among illegal immigrants arrested on boat - Whittier Daily News

"Most had intended to pay up to $8,500 to smugglers to bring them to Los Angeles"

Yeah they have that kind of money to spend on coming here illegally but not to go through the proper channels, Hmmm because they are felons who have been previously deported! WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE!