19 unauthorized immigrants from Mexico apprehended off coast of La Jolla Saturday


The U.S.Coast Guard intercepted a boat off the La Jolla coast with 19 people aboard early Saturday who were all suspected of trying to enter the United States illegally. (U-T file photo)


City News Service


The U.S.Coast Guard intercepted a boat off the La Jolla coast with 19 people aboard early Saturday who were all suspected of trying to enter the United States illegally.

A Coast Guard vessel detected the boat shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley said.

The panga was intercepted about 8 miles west of Windansea Beach in La Jolla. All of the 19 people aboard taken into custody were believed to be unauthorized immigrants from Mexico, said Ralph DeSio, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman.

Two were arrested on suspicion of human smuggling, officials said.

It's at least the sixth known smuggling boat incident in recent weeks.

On Sept. 9 and 10, Border Patrol agents apprehended a total of 26 people in two separate apparent boat smuggling attempts. As many as 25 people may have come ashore illegally in Pacific Beach on Sept. 6, though none were caught, and 19 people were arrested when their panga landed at Ponto Beach in Carlsbad the day before.

On Aug. 26, another panga carrying 19 suspected unauthorized immigrants was stopped off the coast of Point Loma and everyone aboard was taken into custody.

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