REGION: Illegal immigrants caught at sea to face tougher penalties
 

REGION: Illegal immigrants caught at sea to face tougher penalties
Authorities say they want to discourage dangerous voyages
In an attempt to discourage illegal immigrants from coming into the country by sea ---- often on overloaded, unsafe boats ---- federal authorities say those who get caught will face tougher penalties.
Until recently, illegal immigrants caught at sea were treated much like those who were caught crossing land borders: They signed a voluntary departure form and were quickly released back to their home country, said Scott Simon, a spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego.
Now, all illegal immigrants who try to come in by sea will face formal deportation procedures, authorities said. That means they will be banned from coming into the country legally for five years.
If they are caught coming in illegally again, they will face felony charges that could result in prison sentences of two to 20 years and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
"The option of signing a voluntary departure form will no longer be available to them," Simon said.
Victor Torres, an immigrant rights advocate and spokesman for North County-based El Grupo, criticized the new policy.
"Once again, the federal government uses a buzz saw to deal with an issue that calls for a scalpel," Torres said.
Simon said the federal government wants people to know it is serious about the dangers illegal immigrants face when they try to come in by sea, especially on small, rickety boats.
The number of illegal immigrants caught on San Diego County beaches, including North County, has increased in recent years. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2010, 867 illegal immigrants were arrested at local beaches, more than double the previous year's total of 400 arrests, according to federal authorities.
Many of those arrested were traveling on small fishing boats, called pangas, immigration authorities said. They often travel in dangerous conditions: at night, with overloaded boats, and inexperienced pilots.
Two people drowned last year when the boat they were in capsized as it came ashore near Torrey Pines State Beach. The 26-foot panga, designed to carry about 10 people, had more than 20 people on board.
Smugglers have been known to travel more than 40 miles out to sea in an attempt to avoid detection, authorities say. The boats travel without lights in the dark, increasing the risk of collisions with other vessels.
In an effort to crack down on these operations, authorities formed the Maritime Unified Command two years ago. The command, responsible for patrolling the waters for smugglers, includes personnel from the Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement agencies.
Simon said authorities will continue to prosecute all smugglers.
The two smugglers responsible for the deaths that occurred when the boat capsized at Torrey Pines were sentenced last month to five years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.