IMMIGRATION - San Diego North County

"Border Patrol halts 2 illegal immigrant smuggling attempts off San Diego County coast" by Richard Marosi, Los Angeles Times 7/6/2010

U.S. authorities foiled two maritime smuggling attempts Tuesday morning along the northern San Diego County coast, including one at a training facility at the Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Eighteen illegal immigrants were arrested after coming ashore about 4:30 a.m. near an area where Marines train for amphibious landings.

They were caught while walking across the base toward Interstate 5, according to Michael Jimenez, an agency spokesman. Border authorities, who were alerted by military officials, were unable to find the smuggling boat, said Jimenez.

The other incident took place at a beach a few miles south, in Leucadia, where agents arrested 16 immigrants who were dropped off from a small panga boat. The vessel was spotted by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter about 2 a.m.

Mexican smuggling groups are increasingly trying to bring in illegal immigrants by sea, and several recent incidents suggest they are aiming to come ashore at beaches farther and farther north of the border.