San Clemente city leaders considering implementing border patrol cameras along coastline
The city of San Clemente could soon be monitored by border patrol cameras after claims that there have been increased panga landings on the shoreline.
Mayor Steve Knoblock says that they've seen an increased amount of landings in the overnight hours.
"We have a lot of pangas that have landed at the state park and North Beach," Knoblock said of the vessels, which are typically used to transport migrants through the ocean. "They just run right upon the beach, the sand, and they all get out of the boat and scatter."
He says that many of the boats are left abandoned off the coast of the San Clemente Pier, some washing ashore after their job is done.
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Knoblock says that the pangas are boarded by undocumented immigrants and that the issue is part of a much larger trend that the Southern California coastline has seen dating back to 2012.
"Because of the tightening of the border, it's like a balloon you squeeze it and it pops out another place," he said.
On Tuesday night, city leaders voted to at least begin exploring the option of having U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents install cameras on the coastline, one at the pier and two in neighboring communities.
Some residents don't see what the issue would be.
"We already have cameras for surfing, so it's nothing out of the ordinary," said one woman.
Knoblock says that he would want the cameras monitored by volunteers throughout the night, when the sightings most frequently occur.
That idea drew some criticism from a crowd gathered at Tuesday evening's meeting.
"There is something about crossing the line that becomes a vigilante," one woman said.
"It's irresponsible to allow any kind of groups or volunteers to be viewing cameras," said another.
Others questioned how safe the cameras will really make their beaches, or if they'll create a larger issue on profiling people.
San Clemente wouldn't be the first city to start working with Border Patrol if the motion does pass, joining Imperial Beach in San Diego County.
