Migrants have used a boat to enter the United States illegally in the latest brazen attempt to bypass border security.
About 20 migrants ran from a boat after it docked at a marina at the tip of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California, on Thursday morning.
They jumped over the fences and ran across the pier toward the street, leaving the empty boat floating behind. A white van slowed down the street when they arrived, but it was unclear if it was there to pick them up.
Images of the migrants arriving and then rushing toward the United States were posted online.
Crossing the border into California by boat is an increasingly popular tactic among immigrants who want to enter illegally, rather than seek asylum. The tactic comes as President Joe Biden’s policies have allowed a flood of immigrants to enter the United States during his term.
Migrants have used a boat to enter the United States illegally in the latest brazen attempt to evade border security, jumping fences as they flee.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes pointed to figures showing incidents of maritime smuggling in California rose steadily from 308 in 2020 to 736 last year.
“Marine smuggling has increased, and while our Port Patrol works to intercept vessels smuggling drugs and people, state restrictions on communications with federal partners hamper our efforts,” he said.
“The state should repeal laws that restrict communication with our federal partners.”
Former Newport Beach mayor and current city councilman Will O’Neill said he and the sheriff blamed California’s “sanctuary state” policy.
“Our nation’s border crisis is serious, lawless and dangerous,” he said.
‘The approaches taken by administrations in DC and Sacramento have significantly worsened the situation.
‘As has been said, every city is now a border city. We should expect better from the people charged with enforcing our laws.’
About 20 migrants ran from a boat after it docked at a marina at the tip of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California, on Thursday morning.
A white van pulled up onto the street when they arrived, but it was unclear if it was there to pick them up.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes pointed to figures showing maritime smuggling incidents in California rose steadily from 308 in 2020 to 736 last year.
Last month, a dozen migrants washed up on a beach in Carlsbad, a city about 30 miles north of San Diego.
The boat passed by a few meters of what appeared to be a surfer in the water as it quickly passed and approached the beach at very high speed.
After beaching the boat on the sand, the migrants got out and ran toward the row of waterfront houses and were picked up by waiting black vans.
The cars left in such a hurry that one woman nearly fell when the vehicle began to move before she could fully climb into the back seats.
Immigrants can seek asylum in the United States by crossing the border and immediately reporting to authorities.
However, a smaller number enter the country illegally with no intention of pursuing the asylum process.
The San Diego sector, which includes most of Southern California’s border with Mexico except El Centro and Calexico, received between 6,000 and 8,000 migrants in recent weeks.
Last month, a dozen migrants washed up on a beach in Carlsbad, a city about 30 miles north of San Diego.
After beaching the boat on the sand, the migrants got out and ran toward the row of waterfront houses on Saturday.
With so many migrants entering the country through Southern California, migrants being screened by the US Border Patrol are being released onto the streets.
The county’s migrant shelter closed a few months ago, after local leaders decided they did not want to spend the $18 million a year needed to continue operating.
“At that time it was costing us about $1.5 million a month to basically be their travel agent,” said San Diego County Commissioner Jim Desmond.
Without local shelter, border patrol turns migrants loose at a transit station or at the airport.
‘The biggest load here lately has been our airport. Luckily many of them fly to other parts of the country, but we are a tourist community. People who come to San Diego see all the people sleeping there. It looks bad,” added the commissioner.
‘We just can’t sustain it; “We can’t manage the numbers that come here.”