A vessel carrying dozens of aliens from China was interdicted in waters near Miami last week, federal authorities have revealed.
The incident unfolded on June 10 in waters approximately a mile south of Key Biscayne, a barrier island in Miami-Dade County.
A crew from U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Station Miami Beach intercepted the inbound boat.
After those onboard failed to comply with orders to stop and then ignored warning shots, USCG used disabling fire to neutralize the vessel.
The USCG crew, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, boarded the watercraft and encountered 25 people claiming to be citizens of China.
The aliens were embarked on a USCG cutter and transported for processing.
The vessel was towed to Station Miami Beach and Homeland Security Investigations opened a criminal probe into the matter.
“Last week, a Coast Guard crew out of Station Miami Beach encountered a vessel with 25 Chinese aliens attempting to illegally enter the United States,” said Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
“This sends a clear message to illegal aliens attempting to enter the United States: don’t even think about it. By land or sea, our borders are CLOSED.”
The Trump administration continues an aggressive campaign to combat illegal migration at sea, as we frequently report.
