Coast Guard Rescues 17 Stranded Off San Diego

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Coast Guard officials say they rescued 17 people aboard a suspected immigrant smuggling boat after it became stranded off the coast near San Clemente Island.

The North County Times reported Friday that the disabled skiff was spotted shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday about 23 miles east of San Clemente Island.

Coast Guard officials picked up the 17 people and took them and the disabled boat to San Diego, where they were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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