Newport Beach Mayor Slams California Lawmakers Over Migrant Apprehension
Mayor Will O’Neill of Newport Beach, California, has strongly criticized state lawmakers after the Coast Guard intercepted a boat carrying 21 migrants nearly a mile off the coast on Thursday. Among the migrants detained, 18 were from Mexico, two were from Uzbekistan, and one was from Russia, according to FOX 11 in Los Angeles.
O’Neill directed his frustration towards California lawmakers, stating, “There’s no way you intend on trying to protect Uzbeki nationals coming in from our southern border. Get your act together, figure this out, because we’re having real problems affecting real people in your cities all across California. You cannot continue to treat every city in California like a border city. You cannot put us in this position. We have real problems, and we need you to fix them now.”
The Coast Guard apprehended the 21 individuals on Thursday night, after noticing suspicious activity from the boat they were on, just a mile from the shore of Newport Beach. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Levi Read commented, “We come across boats on a regular basis. Not all the time do they have that many people on it, though.”
Mayor O’Neill expressed concern about the broken system that allows people, especially from Uzbekistan, to enter the U.S. through the southern border. He highlighted the impact of SB 54, also known as the “California Values Act” or the “sanctuary state” law. Implemented in 2018, the law prohibits cooperation between state law enforcement agencies and federal immigration officials.
FOX 11 reported another incident involving illegal immigrants in Newport Harbor in May, where more than 20 suspected migrants were seen walking onto a pier before dispersing into the town. The fishing vessel used in Thursday’s incident, a 34-foot fishing boat with a stack of life jackets inside, was located by the station.
The 21 migrants apprehended on Thursday have been handed over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by cities in California and the urgent need for lawmakers to address the broken immigration system.
