U.S. Coast Guard stops 7 migrants in boat off Newport Beach

The U.S. Coast Guard says seven undocumented immigrants have been transferred to the Department of Homeland Security after being found in a boat off the coast of Newport Beach over the weekend.

A Coast Guard crew from Station Los Angeles-Long Beach spotted the 20-foot vessel around 9 p.m. Saturday.

The vessel was stopped and boarded by the crew, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release

issued Sunday.

“During the boarding, the crew identified seven suspected aliens aboard and discovered water intrusion in the bilge. They secured the flooding source and initiated a tow,” the news release stated.

The group of migrants consisted of five men and two women, according to the Coast Guard. Three were confirmed Mexican nationals, with the remaining four also suspected to be Mexican nationals.

All seven detainees were transferred to the Coast Guard’s partner agency, the Department of Homeland Security.

No injuries were reported.