Authorities intercepted another suspected human-trafficking boat and escorted it into Newport Harbor on Saturday, marking the third reported incident in less than a month involving a vessel carrying alleged migrants in the affluent Southern California community.
Federal officials said the boat carried 11 men, two women and a young boy, all of whom claimed to be Mexican nationals. Video provided to The California Post showed agents detaining at least two people on a dock in Newport Harbor.
All 14 people aboard were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody, while authorities seized the vessel used to transport them.
Newport City Council member Erik Weigand said he was alarmed that another suspected smuggling boat had surfaced in the harbor’s busy waters, following similar incidents on Sept. 5 and Sept. 19.
“It’s alarming,” Weigand said. “We know that it’s due to the borders being much more secure than they were in the previous administration, so these guys are finding new ways to get into the country.”
The incident unfolded at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, according to federal officials. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection interceptor vessel stopped a fishing-style boat suspected of transporting people illegally in ocean waters off Newport and brought it to a local dock.
The CBP vessel sped into the harbor alongside the suspected smuggling boat, attracting attention from boaters and beachgoers gathered for the annual Pacific Airshow. The event, which features U.S. Air Force aircraft, draws large crowds to Newport.
Officers took everyone aboard the smaller boat into custody at the dock. Emergency medical personnel evaluated and cleared one passenger who was suffering from dehydration and seasickness. Footage supplied to The Post showed two men seated on the dock in handcuffs.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement that CBP remains committed to enforcing the law.
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“Maritime migration is dangerous and can too often result in death,” the statement said. “Illegal aliens should not embark on a dangerous journey. The United States border will remain closed to illegal migration by sea, air, and land.”
Saturday’s interception came about two weeks after a boat carrying suspected migrants arrived at a private dock, where roughly a dozen men reportedly came ashore. The 20-foot vessel was abandoned after hitting and damaging a nearby yacht.
Residents said the men left the boat in the 400 block of Edgewater Place and climbed into two vehicles that were waiting nearby. Authorities are investigating the landing.
Two weeks before the Edgewater incident, a Coast Guard cutter stopped a 28-foot cabin boat carrying about two dozen suspected migrants in waters west of Newport. Those aboard were taken to Newport Harbor and turned over to Border Patrol agents.
Federal officials say Mexican human traffickers often coordinate with organized-crime groups to move migrants into the United States. As border security has tightened, officials say more smugglers have turned to maritime routes.
Authorities describe sea crossings as among the most expensive and dangerous methods used to move people across the border. In July, officials found 21 migrants packed onto a small smuggling boat, including a 56-year-old man who was unresponsive and later died.
Weigand said Newport’s steady stream of recreational boat traffic could provide cover for smugglers. At the same time, he said residents are increasingly concerned about the risks posed by the suspected operations.
He is advocating for a project to install security cameras near the mouth of Newport Harbor. Weigand said a system capable of identifying boats without proper registration or tags could help authorities detect potential trafficking activity.
“Having some fixed equipment right at the narrowest part of our harbor would be a great tool in preventing these coordinated landings,” Weigand said. “A coordinated operation that monitors the comings and goings of our harbor would be beneficial to everyone.”
