IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (KGTV) – Eight undocumented immigrants were taken into custody early Thursday morning after a panga boat washed ashore near the Imperial Beach Pier.
Border Patrol agents were called to an area off 24 Palm Ave. at around 12:30 a.m. in response to reports of a boat that washed up on the beach and life vests nearby.
When agents arrived, they spotted several people near the boat. Some of them ran, but agents were able to detain six people at the scene.
About two hours later, agents apprehended two others who had been hiding in a residential area.
Border Patrol officials said: “Of the eight arrested all were Mexican nationals, seven were adults ranging from 20 to 45 years in age. One individual was a 17-year-old juvenile. All eight admitted to being illegally present in the U.S., including a 36-year-old man who was identified as the boat captain.”
