Man accused of captaining migrant boat that capsized, killing 4, is charged
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Federal authorities on Monday charged a man believed to be the captain of a boat carrying immigrants. Capsized near San Diegokilled four passengers.
The man, a Mexican citizen, was charged twice with bringing people into the country illegally.
U.S. Border Patrol agents were notified around 11:30 p.m. Friday that a small boat had crossed the international maritime border between Mexico and the United States.
Border Patrol found the wooden kayak in the surf off Imperial Beach after it overturned due to high waves. Just before midnight, six people were found on the beach; One of them was declared dead, while the other was rescued after being found under the boat.
About two hours later, authorities received a report of someone in the water near the Imperial Beach Pier. The Coast Guard responded and found three people in the ocean, all dead.
The 5 survivors were hospitalized for treatment.
According to the complaint, many passengers said the boat was experiencing engine problems. They urged the captain to return to Mexico, but he refused.
The complaint stated that one man was trapped in the cabin below deck when the boat overturned and he and several others were submerged under water. He was released after Border Patrol agents turned the boat over. The complaint stated that another person was injured when he got stuck under the boat and a piece of metal entered his leg.
The suspected captain faces life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.
“Maritime smuggling is extremely dangerous, and we will prosecute anyone responsible for these preventable tragedies to the fullest extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a press release. he said.
Another man was also a passenger on the boat and was facing charges of deportation and attempting to re-enter the United States illegally. It was first removed from the United States in 2012 and most recently on November 3 of this year.
To avoid heavily guarded land borders, including off the California coast, migrants are increasingly turning to traveling by sea, the risky alternative offered by smugglers. Ships leave Mexico at midnight and sometimes sail hundreds of miles (kilometers) north.
In recent years, there have been many incidents where immigrant ships capsized on their way to California.
