Coast Guard officers fired shots to stop a vessel carrying illegal immigrants off San Diego’s coast, exposing a growing maritime smuggling crisis that has seen 37 illegal immigrants intercepted in just one week.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Coast Guard disabled a human smuggling vessel after verbal warnings failed, firing four rounds into the boat’s engine near Point Loma on May 10, 2025.
- Eight illegal immigrants were apprehended: five adult men, one woman, and two teenage boys (ages 16 and 17).
- San Diego’s Coast Guard unit intercepted 11 vessels involved in illegal smuggling with 37 illegal immigrants in just a six-day period (May 4-10).
- Maritime smuggling has increased dramatically as smugglers adapt to tightened land border security, resulting in multiple deadly incidents.
- Border Patrol has encountered approximately 45,400 illegal immigrants in the San Diego sector since October.
Coast Guard Forced to Disable Smuggling Vessel
In a dramatic confrontation off San Diego’s coast, U.S. Coast Guard officers were forced to use disabling fire to stop a vessel carrying illegal immigrants after verbal commands and warning shots failed. The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m. on May 10, 2025, approximately two miles south of Point Loma, when Coast Guard personnel observed an 18-foot cuddy cabin vessel traveling at high speed into San Diego Bay. After the vessel refused to comply with orders to stop, a Coast Guard patrol boat intercepted the smuggling vessel and fired four rounds into its engine, successfully disabling it.
The Coast Guard then boarded the vessel and took control, finding eight illegal immigrants aboard: five adult men, one adult woman, and two boys aged 16 and 17. All individuals and the vessel were transported to Ballast Point and transferred to the Department of Homeland Security for processing. This latest incident highlights the escalating maritime smuggling crisis along California’s coast as smugglers increasingly turn to sea routes to bypass land border security measures under the Biden-Harris administration Stated by, San Diego
Growing Maritime Smuggling Crisis
This dramatic interception is not an isolated incident but part of a surge in maritime smuggling operations targeting Southern California’s coastline. In just the week prior to this incident (May 4-10), the Coast Guard’s San Diego unit intercepted an alarming 11 vessels involved in illegal smuggling operations, apprehending 37 illegal immigrants in total. In another recent incident, the Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne intercepted a 20-foot pleasure craft carrying three undocumented migrants about two miles south of Point Loma. That vessel was found to have no registration or documentation, and its occupants lacked legal authorization to be in the United States.
The waters off San Diego have become a hotspot for human smuggling as President Trump’s administration works to restore the border security dismantled by the previous administration. Human smugglers are increasingly turning to maritime routes in response to tightened land border enforcement. Border Patrol has reported encounters with approximately 45,400 illegal immigrants in the San Diego sector alone since October, with a significant portion attempting entry via maritime routes. These dangerous crossings put both migrants and Coast Guard personnel at risk Stated by, Biden-Harris
Deadly Consequences of Maritime Smuggling
The surge in maritime smuggling has led to tragic consequences, with several fatal incidents occurring in recent months. Just days before this latest interception, on May 5, a suspected smuggling boat capsized near Del Mar, resulting in three deaths and four injuries. The Coast Guard has repeatedly warned about the extreme dangers associated with maritime smuggling operations, which often involve overloaded vessels, hazardous sea conditions, and operators with little or no maritime experience. These vessels frequently lack basic safety equipment and are operated by smugglers who prioritize profit over human life.
These incidents underscore the ongoing border security challenges faced by the Trump administration as human smugglers adapt their tactics to evade law enforcement. Early on the same Sunday as the Point Loma incident, Border Patrol agents apprehended nine additional people suspected of being illegal immigrants after a boat washed ashore in La Jolla. The Coast Guard’s aggressive response, including the use of disabling fire when necessary, reflects the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting America’s maritime borders from those who seek to enter the country illegally Stated by, President Trump
