TWO INDIANS HELD FOR ENTERING US FROM MEXICO

Two Indian nationals were among 19 people arrested by the US border patrol officials in California for entering the country illegally by boat from Mexico.

The US Border Patrol agents, working in coordination with the department of homeland security (DHS), arrested 19 people on Monday, a statement from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said.

Late on Sunday night, CBP Air and Marine Operations (AMO) aircraft spotted a panga-style vessel entering US territorial waters from Mexico with multiple people on board. The AMO notified the US Coast Guard and they interdicted the panga approximately 24 km west of Point Loma, California.

A total of 19 people were intercepted, of whom two were identified as suspected smugglers. The other 17 were illegally present in the US.

All 19 male illegal aliens were arrested and taken to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing. Agents determined that two of the passengers were Indian nationals, while all others were Mexican nationals, the release said. It did not give any details of the two Indian nationals.

The suspected smugglers are in DHS custody and may face human smuggling charges.

Since 2013, the US has admitted more than half a million illegal immigrant minors and families from Central America, most of whom today are at large in the US.

NEW YORK: