One Killed, 11 Injured in Human Smuggling Operation in Southern California

A human smuggling operation off the coast of La Jolla in San Diego failed Thursday, as one person was killed and 11 hospitalized after people jumped into the water and tried to swim to shore, KTTV reported.

San Diego lifeguard captain Maureen Hodges told reporters at a news conference, "The conditions out there today were rough. We have 4- to 6-foot surf and some heavy currents."

Authorities reportedly were first notified around 5:30 a.m. that eight people had jumped from a panga, a small boat, and started swimming. According to KTTV, 15 to 18 people were still on board as the panga continued north up the coast after the eight had jumped.

The Los Angeles Times said the panga was about a mile away when it capsized near Wipeout Beach. Ten people were rescued from the water, some of whom were wearing life vests or had one in hand, KNSD reported.

One person who was submerged in the water by the time rescue crews arrived was brought to shore and given CPR. The person was later pronounced dead on the beach, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokeswoman Mónica Muñoz.

At least 15 migrants are in custody after the rescue, according to the California Border Patrol. U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jacob Macisaac said at a press conference, "All individuals were determined to be unlawfully present inside the United States and were transported to a Border Patrol station for processing."

The incident Thursday comes just weeks after another failed smuggling operation in San Diego where a vessel overturned and three people were killed.

The increase in enforcement at the land borders has resulted in many migrants turning to the sea in order to cross the border, but the Border Patrol says it's not worth the risk to get on the boats.

"The real danger here definitely is to the migrants that are on these vessels," Macisaac said. These boats, he added, lack basic safety measures and are "grossly overladen."

The International Organization for Migration has tracked a total of 117 migrant deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border so far this year.

"It's definitely something that we've seen an increase of over the past couple of fiscal years," Macisaac said. "Last fiscal year was actually a record year for maritime apprehensions, with 1,273 apprehensions in the maritime environment. This fiscal year, which won't end until the end of September, we're already approaching 1,100, so we're on pace to break that record again."

Newsweek reached out to San Diego Lifeguard Service for comment but did not hear back before publication.