The Department of Homeland Security said a Coast Guard crew used disabling fire to halt a vessel that ignored orders to stop about a mile south of Key Biscayne; no injuries were reported
The Department of Homeland Security said a U.S. Coast Guard crew stopped a vessel carrying 25 people attempting to enter the United States illegally off the coast of Florida this month, all of whom claimed to be Chinese nationals.
According to DHS, the interdiction happened on June 10, about a mile south of Key Biscayne, when a crew from Coast Guard Station Miami Beach approached a vessel that failed to comply with orders to stop. The agency said the crew fired warning shots, which did not gain compliance, and then used disabling fire to stop the vessel. No injuries were reported, according to DHS.
DHS said Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations responded to assist after the interdiction, and that special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations responded and opened a criminal investigation. The agency said all 25 people encountered claimed to be Chinese nationals.
According to DHS, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell took the group aboard for further processing, and the vessel was seized and towed to Station Miami Beach. The agency said the case remains under investigation.
In a statement, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said the crew encountered the vessel attempting to enter the country illegally and said the interdiction sends a message that the borders are closed by land and sea.
“Our Coast Guard crews, working closely with our local, state, and federal maritime law enforcement partners, remain vigilant in detecting and deterring unlawful maritime migration ventures,” said Lieutenant Matthew Ross, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Miami Beach. Ross said anyone considering such a voyage is risking their life at sea and can expect to be interdicted and repatriated.
DHS said the Coast Guard, along with its Operation Vigilant Sentry partners, maintains a continuous presence with air, land, and maritime assets across the Florida Straits, Windward Passage, Mona Passage, and Caribbean Sea, in an effort the agency said is designed to protect life at sea while deterring unlawful maritime migration to the United States and its territories.
