34 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in US Smuggling Interceptions

The arrests were made in operations carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard working with the U.S. Navy and the CBP.

The U.S. Coast Guard, partnering with the U.S. Navy and Border Patrol, intercepted smuggling vessels and arrested illegal immigrants. Courtesy of the USCG

Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in Southern California intercepted three smuggling vessels last week in separate encounters, according to the agency.

The operations, carried out in joint coordination with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Navy, led to the apprehension of 34 illegal immigrants, USCG said in an Aug. 5 post on X.

Commenting on the issue, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in an Aug. 5 post on X, “Do not attempt to enter our nation illegally: we will find you and you will face the consequences. Our borders are closed.”

On July 21, in another incident, the Coast Guard announced that it had apprehended seven suspected illegal immigrants offshore of Point Loma, California. The individuals were found traveling in an 18-foot vessel by a Coast Guard cutter. The illegal immigrants were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents for further investigation.

On June 17, the Department of Homeland Security said the Coast Guard had seized more than 225,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Pacific Viper since the operation was launched in August 2025.

With just 1.2 grams of cocaine being a potentially deadly dose, the seized amount equated to more than 93 million potentially fatal doses kept away from American streets, DHS said.

“Eighty percent of all seizures of U.S.-bound narcotics occur at sea, underscoring the impact of Coast Guard maritime interdiction efforts,” the department said.

Meanwhile, it was the Coast Guard’s 236th anniversary on Tuesday, according to an Aug. 4 post on X by the agency.

USCG employs 78,677 personnel and has 1,808 small boats, 350 unmanned aerial systems, 223 cutters, and 135 rotary aircraft in service. In the calendar year 2025, the Coast Guard carried out 6,705 search-and-rescue cases, saved 5,220 lives, and stopped 231 narco-terrorists.

In an Aug. 5 post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump commended the Coast Guard on its 236th anniversary and said that his administration was rebuilding the service to ensure “American Strength, Sovereignty, and Security.”

“The first of 11 new Arctic Security Cutters that I ordered will be delivered in 2028,” he said. “Congress must fully support and fully fund the United States Coast Guard so they can continue carrying out this vital Mission.”

USCG announced the awarding of contracts for the 11 Arctic Security Cutters in a Feb. 11 statement. The new cutters are expected to become the backbone of a revitalized icebreaker fleet, protecting the sovereignty of the United States.

For fiscal year 2027, the Trump administration has requested a budget of more than $15.61 billion for the Coast Guard, up by more than 15 percent from the $13.52 billion budget in fiscal year 2026.

In a fact sheet, the Department of War said that the investment in USCG will fund the “initial workforce transformation by putting the Service on a path to grow by 15,000 active duty members.” The funds will also be invested in new technologies and used for overhauling support systems.