Two children drown to death as Indian family tries to enter US illegally

Tragedy struck an Indian family of four trying to enter the US illegally as the boat they were travelling in capsized off the coast of San Diego, California. A 14-year-old boy from the family has been declared dead and his 10-year-old sister, still missing, is presumed dead. Though their parents were rescued by coast guard personnel, the father is in a comatose condition in hospital.
The boat capsized on May 5, and the boy was declared dead on May 7 even as details emerged of the tragedy and the Indian family. The family was among other illegal immigrants, and three people have been confirmed dead in the boat tragedy.Five people have been charged in the case.The 10-year-old girl from the Indian family still remains untraced, and thereby, presumed dead, according to a report by the Associated Press, citing the US Attorney's Office in San Diego's statement.The children's father, who was one of the four people, including his wife, was rescued and taken to hospital and is in a coma. His wife remained hospitalised.Two others who were rescued were taken into custody and later arrested by the police.The other two killed were from Mexico, including an 18-year-old boy and another man, according to the Mexican consulate, AP reported.According to the consulate, the 18-year-old's girlfriend,16, is being treated after water filled her lungs. The consulate is working with the families in Mexico to send the mortal remains of those who died.
Two Mexican nationals were arrested at the beach near where the boat capsized early Monday morning (May 5). They were charged with human smuggling resulting in death, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison, according to the report.
Initially, it was reported that nine people were missing following the accident.

Later, Border Patrol agents on Monday night found eight of the missing illegal migrants alive as they managed to make it to shore.

Three agents were seen earlier near the accident site. They were waiting for the migrants in their vehicles. They fled the scene with eight migrants who managed to swim to safety.

Soon, the agents identified vehicles with drivers who were waiting to pick up the migrants as part of the smuggling scheme, according to court documents filed against 5 Mexicans in connection with the accident.

The drivers of the vehicles — Melissa Jenelle Cota, 33, Gustavo Lara, 32, and Sergio Rojas-Fregoso, 31 — were arrested and charged with the transportation of undocumented immigrants, The Los Angeles Times reported.

ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TURNING RISKY ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
The official described the vessel as a panga—an open fishing boat with one or two engines, often used by smugglers.

According to the Coast Guard spokesperson, a number of Indian passports were found on the beach near where the panga washed up.

Migrants are taking risky sea routes offered by smugglers to bypass heavily fortified land borders. These panga boats often depart from Mexico's coast under the cover of darkness, embarking on long journeys northward, sometimes travelling hundreds of miles.

Since October 2024, the Coast Guard has tracked 277 vessels clandestinely entering US waters from Mexico in the San Diego area, some of the boats being interdicted and others getting away, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Read.