California Coast Guard Captain Sounds Alarm as Migrants from Adversary Countries Inundate Pacific Waters

The Southern California Coast Guard is grappling with a surge in migrant crossings by boat, many involving foreign nationals from countries considered U.S. adversaries. Over the past 90 days, officials have recorded an average of two migrant boat interceptions daily near the San Diego coast—a significant uptick that has raised national security concerns.

Coast Guard District 11 Captain Jason Hagen revealed the diversity in the migrant demographics, noting an increase in individuals from countries such as China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. "We're starting to see an uptick in other nationalities, which is a national security concern," Hagen stated. "It’s not just economic migrants anymore—there are also bad actors from other countries."

A decade or so ago, the majority of these crossings involved Mexican nationals. Today, the picture is far more complex. Hagen explained the shift, attributing it to stricter land border security measures introduced during the Trump administration. "It's like squeezing a balloon. You lock down one area, and the pressure shifts elsewhere," he said. With the land border increasingly difficult to cross, smugglers are turning to the Pacific waters.

Maritime smuggling is not only illegal but dangerous. Hagen shared a recent case where 16 people were found stranded 20 miles offshore after their boat was disabled. They had spent two days at sea without food or water. "Had we not found them, they could’ve drifted even further into the Pacific," he warned.

The dangers of these voyages are matched by their high costs. Migrants often pay between $12,000 and $15,000 to smugglers for a perilous journey on unsafe vessels. Republican California State Rep. Carl DeMaio criticized the exploitation by smugglers, calling human trafficking "an evil enterprise." He pointed out the dual victims of this crisis: migrants who risk their lives and U.S. taxpayers who bear the financial burden of the aftermath.

The broader implications of these crossings have ignited debates at the local and national levels. San Diego’s Board of Supervisors recently passed a resolution barring county officials from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez pushed back, asserting her office’s independence and commitment to balancing immigrant rights with public safety.

Despite the challenges, Hagen emphasized that the Coast Guard is not overwhelmed. "The increased attention has brought more resources to our team," he noted. Strengthening the Coast Guard’s southern coastline presence remains a priority to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S.

The situation also highlights the broader ripple effects of immigration policy. Under Trump’s administration, policies like border wall reconstruction and the deployment of military personnel to the border aimed to curb illegal immigration. These measures, however, have inadvertently redirected migration routes to the sea, creating new challenges for law enforcement.

As the Coast Guard continues its efforts, one thing is clear: the Pacific waters are now a new front in America’s ongoing immigration debate.