Two Men Charged After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off San Diego, Resulting in Four Deaths

Federal prosecutors announced on Monday that two suspected smugglers have been charged related to the capsizing of a panga boat carrying migrants near San Diego’s Imperial Beach, which led to the deaths of four passengers.

The accident reportedly took place amid rough waves, and there was an altercation between the captain and some passengers onboard.

The boat’s captain, David Alfonso Barrera Nunez, a Mexican national, was apprehended on Saturday. He faces charges connected to the fatalities of the four passengers, according to the Justice Department.

The second suspect, Luis Enrique Barreto Goitia, also from Mexico, was charged with “bringing a foreigner resulting in death” and for introducing a foreigner for financial gain.

Passengers who survived the incident have also faced charges, as some were previously deported individuals who illegally reentered the U.S.

This incident unfolded on November 14, when Customs and Border Protection officials were alerted to a small boat crossing the international maritime boundary.

About an hour after the alert, survivors emerged from the surf, discovering the panga had capsized in six-foot waves. There were believed to be nine individuals onboard; four people tragically died while five were rescued or taken to local hospitals.

Survivors described a harrowing experience where the boat encountered engine trouble, which led to a dispute between the captain and passengers who were pleading for him to return to Mexico.

Prosecutors indicated that Barrera-Nunez ignored these pleas and attempted to head toward shore despite the boat having no engine power. The panga spun in the turbulent water and eventually capsized. Notably, Barrera-Nunez managed to reach the beach but did not assist the passengers, as per the complaint.

One survivor shared that he was trapped in a submerged cabin but found a pocket of air to breathe until rescuers righted the vessel. Another individual recounted that he hesitantly joined his granddaughter on this perilous journey. He mentioned that before the boat capsized, the captain urged everyone to jump overboard. While he helped his granddaughter escape, he became trapped himself and sustained a serious leg injury from debris before being rescued.

Officials from the Department of Justice have been contacted for further information on this tragic event.