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Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment San Diego |
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| News Release |
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DHS agencies respond to disabled vessel SAN DIEGO - The crews of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Edisto and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vessel assisted a distressed boat with 24 suspected illegal migrants aboard approximately four miles southwest of Pt. Loma this evening. A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter also assisted in the operation.
When the Edisto's crew located the disoriented, disabled 20-foot vessel they determined it was overloaded and posed a risk to the people onboard so they were all safely transferred to the cutter. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Midnight Express go-fast boat responded to the scene and assisted Edisto with the mission.
"Operations like these at night in heavy fog or other poor weather conditions are inherently dangerous. Attempts to smuggle illegal immigrants are often made on vessels that are overloaded and carry minimal survival equipment. It was fortunate we were able to locate this vessel before it grounded in the surf or overturned at sea," said Capt. Thomas Farris, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Diego.
Visibility at the location of the search was less than three miles with heavy incoming fog. Winds were light and seas calm. Once ashore the suspected illegal immigrants were transferred to the custody U.S. Customs and Border Protection. ### Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
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