A new report by the Wall Street Journal released on Saturday reveals how illegal migrants are increasingly utilizing California’s beaches as a route to enter the U.S.
Known as “the Golden state” for its radiant abundance of sunshine, California is renowned for its many beautiful beaches and the influence of those beaches on its culture, inspiring the music of the aptly named Beach Boys and classic films such as John Milius’s 1978 feature Big Wednesday.
However, California’s famous beaches are now coming into contact with another famous feature of the occidental state’s culture: Its high foreign-born population and openness to immigration, including many migrants whose legal status might be somewhat less than copacetic in the eyes of the U.S. government.
There has been a significant rise in both successful and unsuccessful attempts to enter via boat in California, with the figures rising from 308 in fiscal year 2020 to 736 in fiscal year 2023. This data, provided by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), indicates that while many of these attempts occur in the San Diego area, there has also been a noticeable increase in migrations further north to Santa Barbara County.
“The big concern for us is we have absolutely no idea who these people are,” San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond told the Wall Street Journal. “We have no idea what they are doing. They’re ghosts.”
In the San Diego area alone, federal agents have made over 220,000 arrests since October 1. Additionally, there have been nearly 8,000 arrests for illegal entry into the U.S. by sea since 2020, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Rafael Fernandez de Castro, the director of the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego, explained to the Wall Street Journal that the majority of migrants smuggled into the U.S. by boat are likely Mexicans who had been previously deported or have a criminal history.
“They risk that, if they are seen by police, they will be immediately thrown out or even serve some time in jail,” Fernandez de Castro said.
Desmond criticized California’s policies, stating that the state is “laying out the red carpet and welcome mat for illegal immigrants to cross the border.” He referenced a 2017 law that restricts when local officers can cooperate with federal immigration authorities, as reported by the outlet.
In response, a spokesperson for Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom argued that despite the 2017 law, localities still have the capacity to collaborate with federal authorities concerning serious criminals. The spokesperson also emphasized to the Wall Street Journal the need for Congress to pass legislation on border security and asylum reform.
Immigration to California from the Mexican border involves a diverse group of individuals seeking new opportunities in the United States. Historically, these migrants have predominantly been of Mexican descent, but in recent years, the demographic has broadened to include individuals from Central American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Many are young men. The reasons for migrating are varied but often include escaping violence and poverty, reuniting with family already in the U.S., and seeking better employment opportunities. Once in California, these immigrants frequently settle in areas with established Latino communities, and interactions between the newcomers and the longtime, native-born American citizens are often sparse.
