U.S. Coast Guard Find 22 Immigrants on Boat

Early September 10th, U.S. Border Patrol agents took 22 people off an open Panga boat and into custody after they spotted them about three miles off the Crystal Cove shore in California.

The U.S. Coast Guard initially saw the boat and alerted Boarder Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, said spokesman and Border Patrol agent, Mark Endicott.

At 3 a.m., the USPB agents stopped the boat and upon immediate investigation discovered that all 22 people aboard were in the country illegally. Some were deported home to Mexico, while others are still being detained as witnesses and suspects in a federal immigrant smuggling case.