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UK Considers Student Visa Restrictions Amid Pressure to Curb Migration

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LONDON — Britain may impose new restrictions on student visas from countries whose nationals are statistically more likely to seek asylum, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government faces growing political pressure to reduce net migration following disappointing local election results.

A government official confirmed Monday that the proposal is part of a broader strategy to address migration concerns ahead of the release of a key immigration policy document next week. The planned “white paper” will outline Labour’s efforts to overhaul the country’s immigration system and reduce net migration, which hit 728,000 in the year ending June 2023.

“Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system,” the Home Office said in a statement.

The potential visa restrictions target students from nations deemed most likely to use temporary entry routes, such as study, work, or visitor visas, to later apply for asylum. While official data does not identify nationalities of student visa holders who claimed asylum, the government said applicants from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka accounted for a significant share of such cases last year. Of the 108,000 total asylum applications in 2023, 16,000 came from individuals who initially arrived on student visas.

The proposal emerges just days after Starmer’s Labour Party suffered voter backlash in local elections across England, with immigration cited as a top concern among disillusioned constituents. The defeats reignited tensions within Labour, particularly among lawmakers representing former strongholds in northern England, known as the “Red Wall.”

Jo White, a prominent Labour MP from the group, criticized the government’s slow response on immigration. “We need to stop pussyfooting around,” she said. “Voters are demanding firm action.”

Legal migration — particularly through student and work visa pathways — has been a flashpoint in UK politics for over a decade and played a central role in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Since then, successive governments have struggled to strike a balance between economic needs and voter concerns over border control.

The expected white paper could set the stage for contentious debate within Parliament, as Labour seeks to reassure voters it is serious about immigration enforcement while avoiding accusations of discriminatory or overly harsh policies. It also remains unclear whether any proposed restrictions would pass legal scrutiny or international obligations related to asylum rights.

Analysts say the government is walking a political tightrope. “Restricting student visas from select countries risks damaging the UK’s reputation as a global education hub,” said migration policy expert Sara Hall of the London School of Economics. “But with net migration numbers this high, the pressure to act decisively is mounting.”

The full details of the plan are expected to be made public in the coming week, potentially reshaping how the UK balances its international education sector with domestic political demands.

Germany’s Merz Stumbles in Shocking First-Round Defeat for Chancellor Vote

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BERLIN  — Conservative leader Friedrich Merz failed in his first bid to become Germany’s chancellor on Tuesday, falling short of a parliamentary majority in a surprise result that exposed cracks in his newly formed coalition and plunged Europe’s largest economy back into political uncertainty.

Merz, 69, who led the center-right CDU/CSU alliance to a narrow victory in February’s federal election and just signed a coalition deal with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), secured only 310 votes in the Bundestag — six votes short of the 316 needed for an absolute majority. At least 18 coalition lawmakers either abstained or broke ranks, an unprecedented setback for a chancellor-designate in post-war German politics.

Bundestag President Julia Kloeckner announced that 307 lawmakers voted against Merz while nine abstained. The surprise defeat triggered immediate political fallout, with Merz canceling planned visits to France and Poland and retreating for emergency consultations with party leaders.

“This is a historic failure. It underscores the fragile unity of the coalition and raises deep concerns about Merz’s mandate to govern,” said Jens Suedekum of the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics.

Despite the blow, Merz remains the likely candidate for chancellor, but the failed first vote has thrown the coalition’s cohesion into doubt at a moment of mounting global and domestic challenges. The Bundestag now has 14 days to elect a chancellor before other constitutional mechanisms are triggered.

Merz had campaigned on restoring fiscal discipline while expanding defense and infrastructure spending, including a controversial proposal to ease Germany’s strict borrowing rules. Some members of his own bloc were uneasy about the policy shift, and analysts said internal dissent likely contributed to Tuesday’s defeat.

“The government still needs to convince its own supporters that it will be able to deliver,” said Carsten Brzeski, ING’s chief economist for Germany. “The failed vote is clearly a sign that not everyone in the CDU agrees with the fiscal U-turn.”

German financial markets reacted nervously, with shares extending earlier losses and bond yields slipping amid renewed uncertainty.

Merz’s CDU/CSU bloc won just 28.5% in the February election and needed to bring the SPD, which captured only 16.4%, into a coalition to form a majority. The two-party pact was seen as fragile from the outset, especially as both parties have lost further ground in recent polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany, which finished second, has surged in popularity, capitalizing on disillusionment with the political establishment.

“Merz failing to get elected in the first round casts a dark shadow over the future of the coalition,” said Philipp Koeker, a political scientist at the University of Hanover. “Even if he wins the second round, the damage to inter-party trust is done.”

Germany has been governed by a caretaker administration since Olaf Scholz’s SPD-led three-party coalition collapsed last November. With no majority government in place, key legislative efforts have stalled.

The political chaos comes amid a looming global trade war triggered by President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs, which threatens to prolong Germany’s economic slump into a third consecutive year. Trump has also rattled NATO allies by questioning America’s defense commitments, prompting European capitals to accelerate military spending.

For Merz, the failure to secure a mandate on the first ballot is a deeply symbolic blow that calls into question his ability to steer Germany through mounting economic and geopolitical turbulence.

Rwanda Confirms Early Talks to Host US-Deported Migrants

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KIGALI, Rwanda  — Rwanda’s government confirmed Monday that it has entered early discussions with the United States about potentially hosting migrants deported from American soil, signaling a new chapter in the East African country’s growing role in global migration policy.

Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said the talks are in the preliminary stages and declined to provide specifics, but local media reports suggest the agreement would involve U.S. financial support to help integrate the migrants into Rwandan society, including through stipends and employment programs.

“We are indeed in early-stage discussions with the United States,” Nduhungirehe told The Associated Press, following remarks he made to state-run media over the weekend.

The U.S. State Department did not confirm the existence of a deal but noted that cooperation with foreign governments remains a critical part of the Biden administration’s strategy to curb illegal migration and provide humane solutions for migrants facing deportation.

If finalized, the deal would mark the second major migration partnership for Rwanda, which previously reached a high-profile agreement with the United Kingdom to receive deported asylum-seekers. That plan, which included construction of specialized accommodations, was scrapped in 2024 after the Labour Party came to power and abandoned the initiative.

Rwanda has long positioned itself as a willing partner for humanitarian migration programs, despite international criticism of its human rights record. The country has faced scrutiny from rights groups over allegations of suppression and arbitrary detention and is also entangled in a volatile regional conflict involving the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwanda is currently participating in U.S.-backed peace talks with Congo, where Kigali is accused of supporting M23 rebels operating in the resource-rich eastern provinces. Nduhungirehe said on Sunday that both nations had submitted draft proposals for a peace agreement, with a final document expected to be signed in the United States next month.

The foreign minister framed the migrant talks with Washington as consistent with Rwanda’s “long-standing commitment to humanitarian cooperation and global migration solutions,” though no timeline for a final deal was given.

Polish Teen Arrested in Greece Over Brutal Killing of 16-Year-Old Girl

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THESSALONIKI, Greece  — A 17-year-old Polish student was arrested in Greece and appeared in court Monday in connection with the brutal killing of a 16-year-old girl in northeastern Poland, authorities said, in a case that has gripped both countries.

The teenage suspect, who had traveled to Greece as part of a school exchange program, was detained in the northern city of Thessaloniki after Polish authorities issued a European arrest warrant. During a court hearing, he refused to consent to extradition, citing fears for his family’s safety if he returned to Poland. Greek officials said he will remain in police custody until a panel of judges rules on the extradition request.

The arrest follows a weeklong search for the victim, who vanished on April 23 after telling her mother she was going to meet a friend nearby in Mlawa, a town in northeastern Poland. On May 1, police using drones and scent-tracking dogs discovered her body concealed in dense shrubbery near railroad tracks.

“We considered various scenarios — including the worst and most tragic possibility. Sadly, that’s the one that turned out to be true,” said police spokeswoman Katarzyna Kucharska. “A breakthrough came around 5 a.m. when a search-and-recovery dog led us to the location where officers discovered the body.”

Details surrounding the girl’s death have not been publicly released, but authorities confirmed she was killed with what they described as “excessive brutality.” Under Polish law, minors can face adult murder charges in such cases if the crime meets specific thresholds of violence.

Polish officials have formally initiated extradition proceedings. If approved, the suspect will face trial in Poland, where the killing has stirred widespread public outrage and renewed debate about youth violence and legal accountability for teenage offenders.

Despite his age, prosecutors say the suspect could face significant prison time if convicted.

What the New Pope’s Name Could Reveal About the Church’s Future

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VATICAN CITY  — The first sign of where the Catholic Church is headed under a new pope may come in the form of a single, symbolic choice: the name he takes.

When the cardinal protodeacon steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to proclaim “Habemus Papam!” — “We have a pope!” — the world hears two things in Latin: the new pontiff’s birth name and the name he will carry as pope. That chosen name is more than tradition — it often offers a glimpse into the theological and pastoral vision that will guide the new papacy.

If the next pope calls himself Francis II, it would likely signal a continuation of Pope Francis’ emphasis on social justice, environmental stewardship, and advocacy for the marginalized. But a choice like Pius — historically linked to traditionalist leadership — could suggest a decisive shift back toward conservative doctrine and liturgical orthodoxy.

“In the deepest recesses of their mind, when they start the conclave, everyone will walk in there with a name in their head,” said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a theologian at Manhattan College.

The tradition of papal name changes dates to the sixth century, when a Roman named Mercurius — named after a pagan god — became Pope John II to avoid pagan association. By the 11th century, newly elected popes regularly adopted names to signify continuity with past pontificates, particularly the names of the popes who made them cardinals.

Some names have remained popular: John, the most used papal name, has been chosen 23 times. Benedict and Gregory follow closely behind with 16 each. Yet since the mid-20th century, the trend has shifted toward names that reflect personal vision rather than simple homage.

“Even now, as we are waiting for the new pope, the name with which he will present himself will help us to understand the horizon towards which he wants to proceed,” said Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University.

Francis, elected in 2013, was the first pope to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of humility, poverty, and peace. In doing so, he aligned his papacy with outreach to the poor, immigrants, and marginalized communities — including the LGBTQ+ faithful — while championing environmental care.

Benedict XVI, chosen by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2005, reflected a return to European spiritual identity. He cited both Benedict XV, who served during World War I, and St. Benedict, founder of Western monasticism. That name, some theologians say, could reappear if cardinals want to reset from the Francis era.

“If we get a Benedict, then we will know that the cardinals chose to see Francis as an anomaly,” said Imperatori-Lee.

John Paul was a hybrid name first used in 1978 by John Paul I, who sought to honor the two Vatican II-era reformers, John XXIII and Paul VI. John Paul II kept the name, signaling continuity with reforms that embraced vernacular Masses and interfaith outreach.

Some papal names now carry complex legacies. Pius, once dominant, has become associated with hardline conservatism. Pius IX ordered the controversial abduction and forced conversion of a Jewish child in 1858. Pius X fueled the anti-modernist movement, and Pius XII has been criticized for silence during the Holocaust.

“It is now a name that is hostage to some Catholic groups that can be considered traditionalists,” Regoli said.

Names like Innocent and Urban, once common in the medieval church, are unlikely to be revived in the modern era. “I don’t think anyone will pick Innocent,” Imperatori-Lee said, noting the name’s tone amid modern scandals. “I don’t think that would be the right choice.”

A new pope isn’t bound to history. Francis proved that in 2013 when he broke centuries of precedent by choosing a name never used before. A wholly new papal name would suggest a bold new direction, a deeply personal agenda, or a break from both progressives and traditionalists alike.

“This would open a new season and could mean that his program is not in line with any of his predecessors,” Regoli said.

One speculative possibility: Ignatius, in honor of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. Such a choice would signal direct homage to Pope Francis’ roots and Jesuit values of education, discernment, and global outreach.

“It would be interesting,” Imperatori-Lee said. “We’ve never had one of those.”

Copied: AP

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Says He’s ‘A Little Nervous’ as Federal Sex Trafficking Trial Opens in New York

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NEW YORK  — Sean “Diddy” Combs appeared visibly unsettled Monday as jury selection began in his high-profile federal sex trafficking trial, briefly interrupting court proceedings to admit to the judge, “I’m a little nervous.”

The 55-year-old music mogul, seated beside his legal team in a gray sweater and slacks instead of jail-issued clothing, was allowed a bathroom break shortly after the questioning of potential jurors got underway. Combs has been held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest last September and appeared with gray hair and a matching goatee — the result of restrictions on personal grooming products behind bars.

The proceedings in Manhattan federal court marked the start of a potentially explosive trial centered on allegations that Combs led a sprawling criminal enterprise involving sexual exploitation, coercion, and violence spanning two decades. The first day was limited to jury screening, with Judge Arun Subramanian warning candidates that evidence would include graphic, sexually explicit content and violent acts.

Despite the serious charges — which include sex trafficking and racketeering — much of Monday’s courtroom attention focused on the demeanor of the defendant himself, a global celebrity long surrounded by both acclaim and controversy.

“He looked worried,” one observer noted as Combs repeatedly conferred with his attorneys.

By day’s end, roughly half of the initial 36 prospective jurors had been dismissed, including individuals who cited financial hardship or admitted bias. Several acknowledged having seen media coverage, particularly a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs physically assaulting R&B singer Cassie in a hotel hallway — footage expected to be key evidence for the prosecution.

Combs has admitted to the assault but denies all criminal wrongdoing in the broader case. His legal team insists that all sexual activity was consensual and that no one was coerced or trafficked.

The indictment portrays Combs as the leader of a calculated, violent sex ring that prosecutors allege used drugs, threats, and promises of career advancement to manipulate women into “Freak Off” sex parties. If convicted, Combs could face up to life in prison.

Opening arguments are expected to begin next week, but jury selection will continue into Tuesday and likely through midweek. Federal rules prohibit live coverage of the trial, leaving sketch artists and courtroom transcripts as the public’s only access to developments inside.

AP

Drone Attack Forces Closure of All Major Moscow Airports, Russia Blames Ukraine

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MOSCOW  — Russia temporarily shut down all four of Moscow’s major airports early Tuesday following what it called a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack, marking the second such strike on the capital region in as many nights.

Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, announced the emergency closures on Telegram, citing safety concerns amid incoming drones. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least 19 drones were intercepted and destroyed as they approached the city “from different directions.” He added that while debris from the downed drones fell on a key highway leading into Moscow, no injuries were reported.

The Kremlin has blamed Kyiv for the overnight attack, which came amid renewed fighting along the Russia-Ukraine border in the Kursk region. Ukrainian officials have not publicly responded to the latest accusations, but Kyiv has previously asserted that drone and cross-border operations are part of a broader military strategy to disrupt Russian control and defend northeastern Ukraine.

As tensions flared in the skies over Moscow, Ukrainian forces intensified activity in Russia’s Kursk region, targeting key infrastructure and engaging in heavy fighting near the village of Tyotkino, according to military sources and Russian officials.

The Ukrainian General Staff said its forces struck a drone command unit in the area over the weekend, challenging Moscow’s April claim that it had re-established full control over Kursk, nine months after a surprise Ukrainian incursion in August 2024. Kyiv maintains it still has soldiers operating within Russian territory.

In the town of Rylsk, two transformers at an electrical substation were reportedly damaged in a drone or artillery attack attributed to Ukraine, according to Alexander Khinshtein, acting governor of the Kursk region. Two teenagers were reportedly injured by shrapnel from the blast, he said in a Telegram post.

Russian military bloggers reported that Ukrainian troops attempted to cross the border near Tyotkino on Monday, with armored vehicles pushing through tank traps and minefields. Photos circulating online — yet to be independently verified — showed vehicles entering Russian territory.

According to a widely followed Russian war blog, RVvoenkor, “The enemy blew up bridges with rockets at night and launched an attack with armored groups in the morning. The mine clearance vehicles began to make passages in the minefields, followed by armored vehicles with troops. There is a heavy battle going on at the border.”

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry issued a statement asserting that its forces “maintain a military presence on the territory of Russia’s Kursk region,” emphasizing that operations are ongoing nine months after the initial incursion.

Some Russian analysts and pro-war channels shared unconfirmed battlefield maps depicting two points of attempted Ukrainian advances toward Tyotkino. The intensified cross-border campaign appears aimed at creating a buffer zone around Ukraine’s Sumy region, located just 12 kilometers from the Russian border.

Local authorities in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, urged residents in two settlements to evacuate, citing the escalating hostilities, Reuters reported.

Ukraine’s operation in Kursk — launched in August 2024 — was initially framed as a tactical maneuver to shield Sumy and its surrounding areas from Russian artillery fire. However, Ukrainian officials have since hinted the region could also serve as a bargaining chip in future negotiations.

Russia has not officially commented on Tuesday’s drone attack or the ground incursions in Kursk, but the events signal a sharp escalation in tactics on both sides. If confirmed, Kyiv’s ongoing ground presence inside Russia marks one of the most assertive moves in the war to date.

Gunmen Kill Three Police Officers in Dagestan as Violence Escalates in Southern Russia

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MAKHACHKALA, Russia — Gunmen opened fire on police in southern Russia’s Republic of Dagestan on Monday, killing three officers and wounding at least four others in a broad daylight attack that highlights persistent instability in the volatile North Caucasus region.

The shooting unfolded around 2:20 p.m. local time in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, as officers attempted to stop a vehicle, according to regional head Sergei Melikov and Russia’s Interior Ministry.

Two assailants, both reportedly born in 2000, were shot dead at the scene, officials said. State media reported that other suspects fled the area in a vehicle, prompting an ongoing manhunt involving federal and regional law enforcement.

Footage verified by Reuters and circulating on Telegram appeared to show the aftermath of the attack, with bodies lying beside a police cruiser as gunfire echoed in the background. Bystanders can be seen standing nearby in shock.

Four people, including officers and civilians, were hospitalized following the attack, authorities confirmed. Among the injured was a 17-year-old girl. One of the injured later died in the hospital, though it was not immediately clear whether the victim was a civilian or law enforcement officer.

Dagestan authorities have opened a criminal investigation, though they have not provided a possible motive or specified the number of attackers still at large. As of Monday evening, security operations continued throughout the city and surrounding areas.

The incident marks one of the deadliest attacks on Russian law enforcement in the North Caucasus this year.

Located along the Caspian Sea, Dagestan is a predominantly Muslim republic that has experienced years of extremist-related violence, particularly from jihadist groups seeking to undermine Moscow’s control over the region.

Just last month, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it had killed four alleged ISIS fighters accused of plotting an attack on a local Interior Ministry office in Dagestan. In June 2024, a coordinated assault by armed militants targeting synagogues, churches, and police in the region left at least 20 dead.

The most recent violence in Dagestan follows high-profile attacks across Russia, including the March 2024 massacre at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, which killed at least 133 people. That attack was claimed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), though Russian officials have also floated unsubstantiated claims of Ukrainian involvement.

While Russia and the United States declared the territorial defeat of ISIS in Syria and Iraq by 2019, extremist offshoots like ISKP continue to carry out deadly attacks across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Security analysts warn that the North Caucasus remains a vulnerable frontier for radicalization and cross-border terrorist operations, despite heavy surveillance and counterinsurgency campaigns by Russian security forces.

Officials have not said whether Monday’s attack was linked to any broader extremist movement, but investigations are ongoing amid heightened alert levels across Dagestan.

Bandit Attack in Northeast Nigeria Leaves 19 Dead, Dozens of Livestock Stolen

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BAUCHI, Nigeria  — Armed bandits ambushed a local security patrol in Nigeria’s Bauchi state early Sunday, killing at least 19 people and stealing livestock in a brutal raid that underscores growing insecurity in the country’s northeast, police and residents said Monday.

The attack occurred around dawn in Gwana district, part of Alkaleri Local Government Area, where heavily armed gunmen laid a deadly ambush on members of a vigilante group responding to threats in the area. Several civilians from nearby villages were also killed as they attempted to flee the violence, authorities confirmed.

In a statement, Bauchi State Police Commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu said a tactical response unit was dispatched to the scene, where officers recovered the bodies of those killed. “A team of operational tactical teams was dispatched to the scene, where they recovered bodies of casualties,” Aliyu said.

The deadly raid is the latest in a series of violent incursions by armed criminal gangs — widely referred to as bandits — that have plagued rural communities across northern and central Nigeria, conducting mass abductions, killings, and livestock thefts with impunity.

According to Ibrahim Hussaini, a local eyewitness, a firefight erupted between the vigilantes and the assailants, resulting in multiple casualties among the security volunteers and residents caught in the crossfire.

“They came in large numbers and opened fire. Our people tried to defend themselves, but the bandits overpowered them,” Hussaini said.

Mohammed Umar, a member of the local vigilante force, said the attackers made away with a substantial number of cattle and sheep after overwhelming the defenders. “They rustled a large number of livestock and disappeared into the forest,” he told Reuters via phone.

Officials have not released the exact number of animals taken, but residents estimate the losses run into the hundreds, further crippling an already vulnerable agricultural community.

While Nigeria’s northwest remains the epicenter of banditry, with states like Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina frequently targeted, Sunday’s assault highlights the spread of such violence into northeastern territories traditionally affected by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents.

Unlike jihadist militants, bandit gangs are primarily motivated by profit — engaging in livestock theft, kidnapping-for-ransom, and extortion. However, both groups exploit the government’s limited presence in rural areas, allowing them to operate with growing sophistication and brutality.

The Nigerian military and police have launched repeated operations to root out bandit strongholds in recent years, but results have been mixed, with civilians often bearing the brunt of retaliatory attacks.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Sunday’s ambush, and authorities say investigations are ongoing.

3 Dead, 9 Missing After Suspected Migrant Boat Capsizes Off San Diego Coast

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SAN DIEGO  — A small vessel believed to be carrying migrants capsized off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving three people dead and nine others missing in one of the region’s deadliest recent maritime incidents involving suspected human smuggling.

The 20-foot panga-style boat overturned just after sunrise near Torrey Pines State Beach, approximately 35 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials. Four survivors were rescued and transported to nearby hospitals with injuries, while search operations continue for the missing.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey confirmed that the boat is believed to have been carrying migrants, not tourists. The vessel resembled the type of open fishing boats commonly used by smugglers to evade land-based border enforcement.

“They were not tourists,” Sappey said. “They are believed to be migrants.”

Witnesses reported the capsizing around 6:30 a.m., prompting a rapid emergency response from multiple agencies, including Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Encinitas Fire Department. A Coast Guard helicopter and rescue boat have been deployed in the ongoing search.

Lt. Nick Backouris of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said beachgoers and hikers witnessed the capsizing, with at least one off-duty doctor attempting to provide CPR to victims. “A doctor hiking nearby called in and said, ‘I see people doing CPR on the beach, I’m running that way,’” he said.

Dangerous sea routes grow deadlier for migrants

Migrants have increasingly resorted to maritime routes to bypass heavily fortified land borders. Smugglers often launch pangas under cover of darkness from Mexico’s coastline, aiming to reach remote stretches of the Southern California shore before dawn. The journey can span hundreds of miles and is frequently undertaken in overloaded, poorly equipped vessels.

On Monday, winds were light and swells reached approximately six feet, according to meteorologist Sebastian Westerink of the National Weather Service. The water temperature hovered around 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17°C), posing hypothermia risks to those submerged.

Authorities recovered the battered boat from the beach, where a bulldozer was used to move it for inspection. The vessel, bearing scuffed blue paint and wooden plank seating, was littered with life vests, an empty waterproof cell phone pouch, bottles of water, and a pair of running shoes. Its engine appeared heavily damaged.

Tragedy echoes previous deadly maritime smuggling attempts

The incident is the latest in a string of deadly maritime smuggling cases along California’s coast. In March 2023, eight migrants died after two boats approached the San Diego shoreline during heavy fog. One vessel capsized in the surf, marking one of the deadliest smuggling events in U.S. coastal waters.

In 2022, Antonio Hurtado was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after piloting a boat overloaded with 32 migrants into powerful surf in May 2021, resulting in three deaths and injuries to more than two dozen passengers. Prosecutors said Hurtado, high on drugs at the time, abandoned the vessel and swam to shore while instructing migrants to hide below deck. The boat broke apart as waves crashed over it.

Globally, migrant sea journeys have become increasingly perilous. According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, nearly 9,000 migrants died attempting to cross borders in 2023 — the highest annual toll on record. The UN’s Missing Migrants Project estimates more than 24,500 migrants have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean alone between 2014 and 2024, though many deaths remain unreported.

As the search continues off San Diego’s coast, U.S. authorities have not yet identified the nationalities or identities of those aboard Monday’s vessel. It remains unclear whether any additional passengers made it ashore undetected.

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