A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued 15 illegal immigrants March 11 from a boat adrift off the southernmost coast of California, officials reported.
The boat was about 60 miles southwest of San Diego when an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was dispatched to rescue the passengers Tuesday.
Two Coast Guard rescue swimmers were deployed to help the illegal immigrants board the helicopter, according to a statement published Wednesday. The occupants were safely hoisted into the chopper and brought to San Diego in two flights, said the Coast Guard. They were then transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody.
San Diego Sector Border Patrol did not return several requests for comment or to confirm receiving the immigrants….