U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a 27-foot cuddy cabin boat carrying 22 illegal immigrants, including 13 Chinese nationals, near Angelfish Creek off Key Largo in Monroe County on Tuesday. All aboard were arrested without incident.
CBP said an Air and Marine Operations enforcement aircraft first spotted the vessel before agency personnel and Coast Guard crews moved in. Those apprehended included one suspected smuggler identified as a Cuban national, 13 Chinese nationals, eight Ecuadorian nationals and one Dominican national.
Officials say it is unusual for Chinese nationals to attempt entry through Caribbean maritime routes, which have historically been used more often by Haitian, Dominican and Cuban migrants. Under the Biden administration, Chinese nationals more commonly crossed at land border points in California and Texas, routes that have since come under tighter enforcement.
Andres Blanco, executive director of CBP Air and Marine Operations for the Southeast Region, said the interdiction reflects the risks of illegal maritime entry.
“Attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea is extremely dangerous and will not go undetected,” Blanco said. “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 added that those who attempt these voyages “face arrest, prosecution, removal, and the very real possibility of losing their lives at sea.”
The migrants were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent for processing, and authorities seized the vessel. Coast Guard Lt. Corryn Ulrich, the cutter’s commanding officer, said, “The U.S. border remains secure due to highly capable teams and coordinated interagency enforcement,” adding that crews “remain ready to save lives and enforce federal law at sea.”
The Angelfish Creek interdiction came in the same week President Donald Trump was set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
