US Coast Guard Announces Immediate Action In Support Of Presidential Executive Orders, Interdicts 26 migrants
A boarding team and safely embarked 26 individuals, who represented multiple nationalities, including those from Mexico, China, and Vietnam.
WASHINGTON – The Coast Guard announced immediate action on executive orders issued by the White House Tuesday to “deter and interdict illegal migration, drug smuggling, and other terrorist or hostile activity before it reaches our border.”
“The U.S. Coast Guard is the world’s premiere maritime law enforcement agency, vital to protecting America’s maritime borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard’s acting commandant.
“Per the President’s Executive Orders, I have directed my operational commanders to immediately surge assets—cutters, aircraft, boats and deployable specialized forces—to increase Coast Guard presence and focus starting with the following key areas:
The southeast U.S. border approaching Florida to deter and prevent a maritime mass migration from Haiti and/or Cuba;
The maritime border around Alaska, Hawai’i, the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands;
The maritime border between the Bahamas and south Florida;
The southwest maritime border between the U.S. and Mexico in the Pacific;
The maritime border between Texas and Mexico in the Gulf of America; and
Support to Customs and Border Protection on maritime portions of the southwest U.S. border.
Together, in coordination with our Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense teammates, we will detect, deter and interdict illegal migration, drug smuggling and other terrorist or hostile activity before it reaches our border.”
Coast Guard interdicts 26 migrants near Oceanside Harbor
U.S. Coast Guard District Eleven: OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Coast Guard crews interdicted a panga-style vessel carrying 26 individuals approximately one mile offshore from Oceanside Harbor, Monday morning.
At around 10:30 a.m., Oceanside lifeguards reported a disabled vessel with multiple people aboard that had run out of fuel. Assessing no immediate safety concerns, lifeguards notified Coast Guard personnel at the Joint Harbor Operations Center and remained on scene.
The Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne was diverted to assist. Terrell Horne’s crew deployed a boarding team and safely embarked the 26 individuals, who represented multiple nationalities, including those from Mexico, China, and Vietnam. The individuals were later transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody.
The Coast Guard works closely with partner agencies to deter and respond to dangerous smuggling operations that endanger lives.
