Coast Guard Stops Suspected Human-Smuggling Boat Off Oceanside

OCEANSIDE, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard stopped a suspected human-smuggling boat carrying 19 migrants off the coast of Oceanside, officials said.

Crew members of the Coast Guard cutter David Duren intercepted the 25-foot boat at about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday around 23 miles west of Oceanside, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The 18 men and one woman aboard the cabin cruiser claimed Mexican nationality.

The undocumented immigrants reported that they had not had food or water for two days, but no "major medical concerns" were found during medical evaluations, Coast Guard officials said. They were transferred to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol.