Two Nepali nationals shot & arrested while attempting illegal entry into US
CBP reported that an AMO aircraft detected the group approaching the U.S. coastline around 9:30 p.m.
KATHMANDU: Two Nepali citizens attempting to enter the U.S. illegally via boat were shot and arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) near San Diego, California, last Tuesday night.
According to CBP, the two Nepalis are currently in custody along with seven other migrants, including two Mexicans, four Brazilians, and one Chinese national. Their identities have not been disclosed.
CBP reported that an AMO aircraft detected the group approaching the U.S. coastline around 9:30 p.m.
The agency then coordinated with a Coastal Interceptor Vessel to monitor the boat. Due to nighttime visibility challenges, authorities fired shots before detaining the migrants early Wednesday morning.
The arrested individuals face legal action under U.S. Code 8 USC 1324, which carries penalties ranging from fines and up to five years in prison for general violations, to a minimum of three and a maximum of ten years for cases involving financial gain or criminal intent.
In a separate incident last Wednesday, a 35-year-old Nepali man, Purnabahadur Dangi from Dang, Nepal, died in Accra, Ghana, while attempting to reach the U.S. through the southern border.
Since former President Donald Trump intensified border security measures on January 20, including doubling CBP deployment, illegal crossings have reportedly dropped by 97%.
The administration has authorized CBP to intercept, detain, and initiate immediate legal proceedings against illegal migrants, significantly reducing unauthorized entries.
