Coast Guard Interdicts 49 Foreign Nationals Attempting to Enter US

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has taken 49 foreign nationals into custody during multiple interdictions over the past few weeks while they were attempting to enter the United States illegally via maritime routes.

On May 26, the USCG announced that it interdicted 36 foreign nationals roughly 22 miles off San Diego.

The passengers were traveling in a “suspicious 30-foot cuddy cabin vessel,” it said. Crew members aboard USCGC John McCormick intercepted the vessel and took control of it without the use of force. All 36 individuals claimed Mexican nationality. They were detained and transferred to Border Patrol agents.

Earlier, on May 24, USCG said it interdicted 10 foreign nationals suspected of trying to illegally enter the United States around 27 miles east of San Clemente Island, all of whom identified themselves as Mexicans.

One foreign national was arrested on May 13 near Imperial Beach, California.

The individual, claiming to be from Romania, was being transported via a personal watercraft. When authorities initiated a pursuit, the watercraft operator threw the individual overboard, according to USCG.

“The operator then conducted a series of evasive maneuvers to avoid being intercepted. The Coast Guard boatcrew recovered the person from the water and conducted a medical assessment of the individual, who was not injured,” USCG said.

The final two of the 49 individuals were interdicted near the entrance of Mission Bay in San Diego on May 4. The individuals claimed to be Mexican nationals.

Maritime interdictions are part of a wider push by the Trump administration to prevent the influx of illegal immigrants into the United States, as well as to remove such people who are already in the country.

On Jan. 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that almost 3 million illegal immigrants left the United States in the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term.

In a May 15 statement, DHS announced that the Trump administration recorded its 12th straight month of zero border releases in April.

“With daily apprehensions down 95 percent from the previous administration and 15 consecutive months of fewer than 9,000 southwest border apprehensions, the border remains more secure than at any point in history,” the department said.

White House border czar Tom Homan said in a May 20 interview with the Washington Examiner that the Trump administration was working to increase deportations.

A total of around 800,000 illegal immigrants have been deported from the country since Trump came to power last year, Homan said. While the numbers are “slightly down,” the administration has a plan to “get them back up and even higher.”

“We are after everyone, but again, you’ve got to prioritize those who are the biggest threats to our national security, public safety,” Homan said.

ICE, CBP Funding Issues

Meanwhile, a spending bill to fund immigration agencies is stuck in the Legislature due to Democratic opposition.

The package directs roughly $38.2 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and around $26 billion to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through fiscal year 2029. Plus, the bill grants $1.5 billion to the Department of Justice and $2.5 billion to DHS.

Last week, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) raised concerns about the spending at a hearing.

“Families are struggling to make ends meet as costs keep rising,” Padilla said.

“And what’s the Republican response? Give ICE and CBP another $72 billion. So much for fiscal responsibility. That’s on top of the more than $100 billion Republicans already handed these agencies—money they haven’t even spent yet.”

During a press conference at the Senate steps on May 21, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said they opposed the bill.

The Senate adjourned for Memorial Day recess on May 21 without passing the bill. The chamber is set to reconvene on June 1. Trump had previously set a June 1 deadline for the bill’s passage.

Republicans were forced to consider a reconciliation bill after Senate Democrats blocked funding for CBP and ICE via the regular appropriations process.

In a May 27 post on X, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) called for a quick passage of the bill.

“President @realDonaldTrump demanded a reconciliation bill on his desk by June 1st, but Senate leadership decided to pack up and head home for recess instead of finishing the job. We must fund ICE and CBP—no excuses,” Fine wrote.

“The House is ready to deliver. The Senate needs to stop the delays and get this done for the American people.”