Homeland Security Arrests 12 Mexican Nationals in Long Beach for Illegal Entry

Long Beach, CA – On Memorial Day, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles announced the arrest of 12 Mexican citizens for unlawfully entering the United States. The arrests followed a tip from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) about a pleasure craft traveling from Mexico to Long Beach.

According to an HSI post on X, CBP alerted authorities early Monday morning after spotting the vessel along the coast. HSI agents responded swiftly, apprehending the group, which included at least one woman, after they were reportedly “jettisoned” by the boat. Details about the exact location of the arrests remain unclear.

Images released by HSI show the migrants standing in front of a white van, many with zip-tied wrists and wrapped in foil blankets. Authorities confirmed the individuals were detained for being unlawfully present in the U.S.

This operation follows another recent high-profile case in Southern California, where a 31-year-old man, previously deported in 2017 then back in the U.S. illegally, was arrested in Newport Beach for allegedly embezzling $7 million from his employer. The executive had been living in the U.S. for 12 years before his detention by ICE.