U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported a wanted fugitive from Mexico last month after he illegally entered the country by boat, officials confirmed, as the Biden administration warns of increasing migrant smuggling via maritime routes.
Octavio Jorge Cortes-Jiminez, who had an active warrant in Mexico for attempted femicide, was caught by the Coast Guard near San Diego on August 12 after arriving in a panga-style boat with eight other migrants. The group was later turned over to Border Patrol, where authorities discovered Cortes-Jiminez’s outstanding arrest warrant.
“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations San Diego remains committed to removing illegal aliens who are wanted abroad for serious criminal charges,” said Jesus Rocha, acting Field Office Director for ICE in San Diego. He emphasized cooperation with international law enforcement to ensure fugitives face justice in their home countries.
Officials Sound Alarm on Maritime Migration
The case comes as White House border coordinator Tom Homan highlighted vulnerabilities in America’s maritime borders during a recent Miami press conference. He noted migrants are increasingly staging from the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands before attempting water crossings.
“We knew once we locked down the Southern border, they were gonna take to the waterways, they were gonna take to the air,” Homan said, pledging additional resources for coastal security operations.
Record Maritime Interdictions
According to a Government Accountability Office report, the Coast Guard experienced 30-year highs in maritime migrant interdictions between October 2021 and September 2023, intercepting approximately 12,500 migrants annually during those fiscal years.
While recent data shows a decline to 4,228 interdictions in fiscal year 2025, officials stress the maritime border remains less secure than land crossings. Homan vowed to bolster technology and personnel for coastal patrols during the administration’s remaining term.
Source: www.dailywire.com โ https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-ice-deports-wanted-illegal-as-admin-warns-of-another-route-into-america