U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard intercepted a small smuggling vessel carrying 22 illegal immigrants, including 13 Chinese nationals, near Angelfish Creek in Key Largo, Florida, on Tuesday. CBP confirmed the interdiction and shared video and photos of the stop with Fox News.
The boat, described as a 27-foot cuddy cabin vessel, was first spotted by a CBP Air and Marine Operations multi-role enforcement aircraft. Coast Guard and CBP personnel then carried out the interdiction, and everyone aboard was arrested without incident.
Those detained included one suspected smuggler, a Cuban national, along with 13 Chinese nationals, eight Ecuadorian nationals and one Dominican national. The group was transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent for processing, and the vessel itself was seized.
Officials say it is unusual for Chinese nationals to attempt entry into the U.S. through Caribbean maritime routes, which have historically been used mainly by Haitian, Dominican and Cuban migrants. Under the Biden administration, Chinese nationals more commonly crossed by land through California and Texas, routes that have since seen tighter enforcement under the Trump administration.
Andres Blanco, executive director of Air and Marine Operations Southeast Region, said attempting to enter the country illegally by sea “is extremely dangerous and will not go undetected.”
“This interdiction demonstrates the strength of our maritime partnerships and our commitment to stopping human smuggling organizations before they can put more lives at risk,” Blanco said. “Those who attempt these dangerous voyages face arrest, prosecution, removal, and the very real possibility of losing their lives at sea.”
Coast Guard Lt. Corryn Ulrich, commanding officer of the Pablo Valent, said the incident reflects ongoing coordination among federal agencies.
“The U.S. border remains secure due to highly capable teams and coordinated interagency enforcement,” Ulrich said. “We remain ready to save lives and enforce federal law at sea.”
The Air and Marine Operations unit is tasked with detecting and responding to aviation and maritime threats along U.S. borders, according to CBP.
The interdiction comes as immigration enforcement remains a flashpoint nationally. Separately, an ICE officer shot a Venezuelan man, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, during a law enforcement operation in Austin on Sunday. The Department of Homeland Security said Perez had entered the country illegally under the Biden administration and had a final removal order; his attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, disputes that account, saying he entered the country lawfully. DHS says Perez survived, is in stable condition and remains in federal custody pending removal. The shooting has drawn protests in Austin and criticism from Democratic officials.
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