Coast Guard rescues 37 suspected migrants stranded for 2 days off California coast
The US Coast Guard rescued 37 suspected migrants from a stranded 30-foot pleasure boat roughly 88 miles off the Southern California coast, after the vessel had drifted for two days without fuel, food or water. The operation, which took place in rough conditions after dark, highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants attempting sea crossings on small, poorly equipped vessels far from shore.
The alert was raised on Friday afternoon when the boat's operator radioed for help, prompting the Coast Guard to dispatch the cutters Sockeye and Halibut, boats from stations in Los Angeles-Long Beach and Channel Islands, and an air crew. All 37 people were safely brought aboard the Sockeye by that evening and later transferred to Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach, where they were handed to US Border Patrol. Officials praised the crews' professionalism but did not disclose the migrants' nationalities or the boat's origin and intended destination.
- Coast Guard rescued 37 migrants stranded 88 miles off California
- Boat had no fuel, food or water for two days
- Rescued group handed over to US Border Patrol