On November 14, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard detained 21 migrants found on a boat nearly a mile off Newport Beach, California. The migrants included 18 from Mexico, two from Uzbekistan, and one from Russia. The Coast Guard responded to suspicious activity aboard the 34-foot fishing vessel and apprehended the group.
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill expressed frustration, accusing California lawmakers of failing to address illegal immigration effectively, particularly regarding the arrival of migrants from countries like Uzbekistan. O’Neill criticized state policies, specifically the “California Values Act” (SB 54), which limits local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities, calling it a broken system that has turned every city in California into a border city.
The migrants were handed over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection after their detention. The incident follows a similar one in May, where over 20 suspected migrants were seen in Newport Harbor before scattering.
