Fugitive Deported After Sea Smuggling Attempt
ICE arrests illegal immigrant with active warrant, highlights border security concerns.
2 min read
ICE has deported an illegal immigrant with an active warrant for attempted femicide in Mexico after he was intercepted by the Coast Guard near San Diego. Octavio Jorge Cortes-Jiminez, who landed in American waters on a boat on August 12, was apprehended by U.S. authorities and handed over to Mexican authorities on October 16.
Cortes-Jiminez was part of a group of nine illegal immigrants who fled Mexico in a panga-style boat. The Coast Guard intercepted the vessel, and Border Patrol later discovered Cortes-Jiminez had an active warrant for his arrest. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations San Diego emphasized its commitment to removing illegal aliens who are wanted abroad for serious criminal charges.
“Our coordination with domestic and international law enforcement partners helps protect communities and ensures fugitives are returned to face justice,” said Jesus Rocha, the acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in San Diego.
Border Security Concerns
White House border czar Tom Homan warned that the Southern border lockdown has pushed migrants to seek alternative routes, including waterways. During a recent press conference in Miami, Homan highlighted the need for improved security along American waterways, where many migrants are staging in the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands.
“We knew once we locked down the Southern border, they were gonna take to the waterways, they were gonna take to the air, they were gonna take to Canada to try to come across,” Homan said.
Maritime Migration Surges
According to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Coast Guard recorded the highest levels of maritime migration in over 30 years between October 2021 and September 2023. In fiscal year 2022, the agency interdicted about 12,500 migrants, and another 12,500 in the following fiscal year. The number dropped to 4,228 in fiscal year 2025, which started in October 2024 and ended in September 2025.
Despite the decrease, officials stressed that there are still vulnerabilities in maritime border security. Homan reiterated the need for increased resources, technology, and personnel to secure these routes over the next two years.
Source: Daily Wire
