06/01/2007: "Coast Guard Busts Illegal Immigrants"

The United States Coast Guard made a boarding of a boat in San Juan County on May 21, and took eight illegal immigrants into custody.

Rumors have been circulating about the incident, and there have been fears by some of the undocumented workers on San Juan Island that a sweep was about to be made by immigration officers from ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The concern caused some of them to leave their homes and stay at other locations until the extent of the enforcement action was known. According to one rumor, a boat was returning concrete construction workers from one of the outer islands to Roche Harbor when the boat was stopped by the Coast Guard, and some of the workers were found to have been here illegally.

According to Lorie Dankers of ICE, the vessel “Merganser” was approached by the US Coast Guard when it appeared that it was overloaded with passengers. The boat was stopped, and found to have eleven people on board, and after an identification check was made, eight of the passengers were found to be Mexican citizens who were unable to prove they were in the country legally.

The eight were taken into custody and transported to Roche Harbor, where they were turned over to Border Patrol officers. They were processed, and then taken to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. One of the men posted bail on the 25th of May, but the rest are in custody awaiting a hearing to determine if they may remain in the country.

Dankers said that a hearing date will be set, and each case will be reviewed by an Administrative Judge who will determine what action is appropriate. As to the question of are there, or will there be, further investigations under way to locate other persons that may be in San Juan county illegally, Dankers said that ICE does not comment on ongoing investigations, or potential investigations.