Coast Guard crews and Federal Agents have been kept busy this month by human smugglers determined to bring illegal aliens to America’s shores. On Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos intercepted a dangerously overloaded small boat off the coast of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, with 21 illegal aliens aboard.
18 men and two women claimed to be from the Dominican Republic, while two men aboard said they were Haitians. One other person was found to have an active Puerto Rico Police arrest warrant and was taken into custody.
The illegal aliens were transferred to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel on Monday, April 20, 2026.
But the Coast Guard and Federal Officers have been even busier cracking down on Human Smuggling off the California Coast. On Monday, April 20, 2026, the Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne stopped a cabin cruiser off San Clemente Island with 18 illegal aliens, all from Mexico, aboard.
On April 18, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Florence Finch intercepted a small “panga” boat Southwest of Point Loma Near San Nicolas Island, overloaded with 29 illegal aliens, all from Mexico, aboard.
On Friday, April 17, 2026, Federal Agents aboard US Customs & Border Protection “Coastal Interceptor Vessels” converged on yet another suspicious boat near San Clemente Island. Their suspicions were confirmed when the “fishing party” aboard the boat was found to be 13 illegal aliens instead: 7 adult males, 5 adult females, and 1 accompanied juvenile female.
On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal intercepted a boat near Point Loma, California, that watchstanders at the Joint Harbor Operations Center in San Diego had identified as suspicious, and found three illegal aliens (all from Mexico) aboard.
The Daily Caller, citing US Customs & Border Protection sources, reports that some of the aliens caught trying to illegally enter California this month “had rap sheets that included DUI, felony hit-and-run, making false police reports, drug possession, active warrants for resisting arrest, trespassing, burglary, possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, drug trafficking, aggravated assault with a weapon, and domestic violence.”
In response to all of this human smuggling activity, the US government is deploying surveillance buoy powered by artificial intelligence, like the one pictured above, in waters along the US border with Mexico off the California coast.
These “PowerBouys” (outfitted with solar panels and wind generators) contain cameras and other surveillance devices to alert the Coast Guard and Customs & Border Protection to human smuggling boats approaching and entering US waters.
UPDATE: The installation of the first “PowerBuoy” surveillance platform near San Diego has not (yet) deterred cartel human smugglers. On Monday, April 27, 2026, the Coast Guard reported apprehending five more illegal aliens aboard a 45-foot sailing boat at the entrance to San Diego Bay.
Share your thoughts in the comments to this story!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Thank you to all the military and CBP Officers and agents that are protecting the USA from criminals and others from coming into USA illegally. . I appreciate their hard work and honor to the United States. If they weren't criminals with warrants etc. I do not mind if illegals follow the law and apply to come here the right way. Not sneaking in.
It has been scarey here in Indianapolis. My neighborhood was once a nice neighborhood, clean, quiet. Not so much anymore. We have lived here over 25 years. It isn't easy for us older folks to pack up and move. From what I here it is pretty much the same all over Indiapolis. But thank you for all your hard work and determination.
I like hearing about the brave Coast Guard and Navy personnel for apprehension of the illegal smuggling operation in the Pacific Ocean. Thank you Jack for reporting this news.