August 15, 2008

16 illegal immigrants stopped at sea

A boat carrying 16 people suspected of illegally crossing into the United States was intercepted at sea early Friday morning and 11 men and five women were taken into custody, according to authorities.

The 20-foot "panga" boat was discovered with its lights off just before 1 a.m.about one mile north of the U.S. Mexico border near Imperial Beach, said Border Patrol agent Mark Endicott.

The skiff tried to elude authorities, but the small boat was "obviously overmatched" by vessels from the Customs and Border Protection Marine Interdiction team, Endicott said. It was stopped about 500 yards off the coast and one-half mile south of the Imperial Beach pier, the agent said.

The 16 Mexican nationals face deportation and the boat was confiscated, Endicott said.

Posted August 15, 2008 09:55 AM

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