Shots rang out as U.S. Border Patrol agents pursued a panga boat carrying undocumented migrants off the coast of San Diego in a dramatic maritime chase caught on video.
Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations released footage Wednesday showing agents intercepting the vessel near San Clemente Island on Feb. 2. The video shows border agents activating sirens, racing alongside the small craft, and ordering those onboard to stop in both English and Spanish.
At one point, the boat appears to accelerate in an attempt to flee. Agents maneuver ahead of it and cut off its path. A man onboard can be heard saying, “Take it easy, man,” as officers, with weapons drawn, order him to raise his hands and step away from the helm.
The footage then shows agents boarding the vessel, transferring the passengers to their patrol boat, and securing them with zip ties near the bow.
Border Patrol later confirmed that 12 people were taken into custody, including three minors, one of whom was just 11 years old.
The video captures the high-speed pursuit from start to finish, with agents repeatedly shouting commands in Spanish as they worked to bring the boat to a halt. After firing two warning shots, officers successfully intercepted the vessel and boarded it.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, maritime migrant encounters nearly doubled in 2021, reaching about 14,500 incidents. Despite the rise, funding for these maritime enforcement missions has remained largely unchanged at roughly $1.2 billion.