LEUCADIA, Calif. -- Border Patrol agents arrested 21 suspected illegal immigrants Tuesday when the 15-foot boat they were aboard came ashore at Beacon'svBeach in Leucadia.

Around 4:45 a.m., U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents spotted the panga carrying 21 Mexican citizens as it approached the Encinitas coastline, Border Patrol agent Mark Endicott said.

When the boat came ashore, Border Patrol agents and San Diego County sheriff's deputies were waiting for them. Nineteen men and two women were taken into custody, Endicott said.

Sheriff's deputies spotted a man who appeared to be waiting for the group in a van, Sutton said. But the man was not arrested by Border Patrol or deputies. It was not immediately clear if he was associated with the apparent smuggling operation.

Tuesday's arrests come just days after Border Patrol agents arrested 21 other suspected illegal immigrants as they tried to enter the country by water in two separate incidents. The earlier arrests were made Saturday afternoon near the U.S.-Mexico border and Sunday afternoon in Oceanside.