Latest news with #DelMar
Fox News
28-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Noem calls for the death penalty following maritime human smuggling attempt that left child dead
Homeland Security Secretary Kristin Noem called for the death penalty in the wake of a disastrous maritime human smuggling operation that left one child, and at least two others, dead. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California announced charges Tuesday against five illegals in an alleged human smuggling attempt gone wrong that resulted in at least three deaths, including a 14-year-old boy from India. According to the attorney's office, witnesses observed an overturned panga boat at a beach in Del Mar, California, on Monday. The statement said bystanders and San Diego lifeguards attempted rescue efforts, and law enforcement officials recovered three bodies, including a 14-year-old boy identified in court records as "P.P.B." The boy's mother and father and two others were rescued and are hospitalized. The father is in a coma. The deceased child's 10-year-old sister is still "missing at sea" and presumed dead. Two Mexican nationals, Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna, 30, and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva, 36, were arrested at the beach and were charged with bringing in aliens resulting in death and bringing in aliens for financial gain. They face possible death sentences or life in prison and a $250,000 fine for the first charge and penalties of ten years in prison with a three-year mandatory minimum and a $250,000 fine for the second. Earlier in the evening Noem posted on X: "This tragic loss of life underscores the deadly reality of maritime human smuggling and why Congress authorized the death penalty when human smuggling results in a death. I am urging the Attorney General to prosecute the suspects to the fullest extent under the law." U.S. Border Patrol agents later identified two vehicles involved, apprehended the drivers and recovered eight of the remaining nine migrants missing from the boat, leaving only the 10-year-old child unaccounted for. The U.S. attorney's office charged the three Mexican nationals caught allegedly transporting the migrants — Melissa Jenelle Cota, 33, Gustavo Lara, 32, and Sergio Rojas-Fregosa, 31 — with transportation of illegal aliens. They face maximum sentences of ten years in prison and $500,000 fines. Rojas-Fregoso, identified as having previously been deported Dec. 19, 2023, is also facing an additional two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said "the drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business." Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego, said "yesterday's heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of the urgent need to dismantle these criminal networks driven by greed." "Human smuggling, regardless of the route, is not only illegal but extremely dangerous. Smugglers often treat people as disposable commodities, leading to tragic and sometimes deadly consequences, as we saw in this case," Gibson said. "The HSI, along with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and other partners from the Marine Task Force, remains firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable for these senseless deaths."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Community feedback needed on LOSSAN rail realignment plans
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — SANDAG has proposed four alternatives for relocating train tracks from the eroding cliffs of Del Mar, and public feedback will be open for nearly two months. The cliffs of Del Mar are eroding at an average rate of six inches per year, posing a risk to the train tracks currently situated on the edge. SANDAG's proposed solutions for relocating the San Diego Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail in that area includes three tunnel options under Del Mar and one option to reinforce and double-track the current cliffside location. The Mayor and city council of Del Mar have expressed opposition to the current options and have suggested a different location not included in SANDAG's proposals. The Pink, Blue, and Yellow Line options involve constructing tunnels at various locations under Del Mar, aiming to move the tracks away from the unstable cliffs. These options are part of SANDAG's efforts to address the erosion issue. The Green Line option proposes reinforcing the existing tracks on the cliffs by double tracking them, despite the ongoing erosion. SANDAG has also included a 'no build' option, which would leave the tracks in their current location without any modifications. On Feb. 28, 2025, the SANDAG moved forward with proposed project goals, objectives, and alternative alignments, including a no build alternative, into environmental document process. An updated NOP of a Draft Environmental Impact Report was released in May, starting a 45-day scoping period to collect feedback. As SANDAG continues to plan for the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the San Diego LOSSAN Rail Realignment project, they are asking the community to read the notice and share your comments by June 30, 2025. A public scoping meeting will be held at The Sound at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on May 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for project updates and to allow the public to provide comments on the scope and content of the Draft Environmental Impact Report. Public input will be taken at the meeting and can be provided in person, or in writing via letter, email, or online. Written comments on the scope of the EIR should be sent: Via mail to SANDAG, 1011 Union Street, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92101, ATTN: LOSSAN Comments Via email to lossancomments@ with subject line 'SDLRR Project NOP' Online at Due to the time limits mandated by state law, responses must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than June 30, 2025. Public feedback is open for 45 days so residents and stakeholders can voice their opinions on the proposed alternatives. For more information on this project, the scoping period, or the environmental process, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
Eight migrants thought to be lost at sea after boat capsized are found alive in San Diego – but 10-year-old still missing
Eight migrants thought to be lost at sea after a boat capsized off the coast of California on Monday were found alive, authorities announced in a news release. Witnesses spotted a panga boat overturned at a beach in Del Mar, 22 miles from San Diego. Lifeguards and bystanders participated in rescue efforts, the Justice Department said. Law enforcement officials recovered three bodies from the water, including a 14-year-old boy from India. His 10-year-old sister remains missing at sea and is presumed dead. The incident resulted in the deaths of three people. The children's father is in a coma and their mother is hospitalized. Nine others were initially unaccounted for. On Monday, officials arrested two Mexican nationals believed to be involved in the event, identified as Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva. The two were taken into custody at the beach on Monday and charged with bringing in aliens resulting in death and bringing in aliens for financial gain. While conducting operations that evening, Border Patrol agents in Chula Vista identified a vehicle that had been observed at the scene of the smuggling incident. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. Border Patrol agents identified two other vehicles during the investigation and managed to stop and arrest the drivers of the vehicles, locating eight of nine people who had initially been reported missing. In that instance, Melissa Jenelle Cota, Gustavo Lara and Sergio Rojas-Fregosa, all Mexican nationals, were arrested and charged with transportation of illegal aliens. Rojas-Fregoso was in the country without authorization and had previously been deported in 2023. ' Human smuggling, regardless of the route, is not only illegal but extremely dangerous,' said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego. 'Smugglers often treat people as disposable commodities, leading to tragic and sometimes deadly consequences, as we saw in this case. 'Yesterday's heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of the urgent need to dismantle these criminal networks driven by greed. The HSI along with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and other partners from the Marine Task Force, remains firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable for these senseless deaths.' Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a written statement that she will seek the death penalty against the alleged criminals. 'I will be formally requesting that the attorney general ensure that these two suspected smugglers are swiftly prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' she said. 'I will also be urging the Attorney General to seek the death penalty in this case. The Department of Homeland Security will not tolerate this level of criminal depravity or reckless disregard for human life.'
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Fox News
Five illegals charged in alleged maritime human smuggling attempt that left child dead
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California announced charges Tuesday against five illegals in an alleged human smuggling attempt gone wrong that resulted in at least three deaths, including a 14-year-old boy from India. According to the attorney's office, witnesses observed an overturned panga boat at a beach in Del Mar, California, on Monday. The statement said bystanders and San Diego lifeguards attempted rescue efforts, and law enforcement officials recovered three bodies, including a 14-year-old boy identified in court records as "P.P.B." The boy's mother and father and two others were rescued and are hospitalized. The father is in a coma. The deceased child's 10-year-old sister is still "missing at sea" and presumed dead. Two Mexican nationals, Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna, 30, and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva, 36, were arrested at the beach and were charged with bringing in aliens resulting in death and bringing in aliens for financial gain. They face possible death sentences or life in prison and a $250,000 fine for the first charge and penalties of ten years in prison with a three-year mandatory minimum and a $250,000 fine for the second. TRUMP SAYS MEXICAN PRESIDENT IS AFRAID OF CARTELS AFTER SHE REJECTED HIS OFFER TO SEND US TROOPS TO MEXICO U.S. Border Patrol agents later identified two vehicles involved, apprehended the drivers and recovered eight of the remaining nine migrants missing from the boat, leaving only the 10-year-old child unaccounted for. The U.S. attorney's office charged the three Mexican nationals caught allegedly transporting the migrants — Melissa Jenelle Cota, 33, Gustavo Lara, 32, and Sergio Rojas-Fregosa, 31 — with transportation of illegal aliens. They face maximum sentences of ten years in prison and $500,000 fines. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Rojas-Fregoso, identified as having previously been deported Dec. 19, 2023, is also facing an additional two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said "the drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business." FATHER WHOSE SON DIED FROM FENTANYL WARNS OVERDOSES 'CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE' AS STATES FIGHT DEADLY CRISIS Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego, said "yesterday's heartbreaking events are a stark reminder of the urgent need to dismantle these criminal networks driven by greed." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Human smuggling, regardless of the route, is not only illegal but extremely dangerous. Smugglers often treat people as disposable commodities, leading to tragic and sometimes deadly consequences, as we saw in this case," Gibson said. "The HSI, along with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and other partners from the Marine Task Force, remains firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable for these senseless deaths."
Axios
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Suburban GOP looks to reset after disastrous municipal elections
Last week, residents of several suburbs and townships voted in their municipal elections and one thing was clear: Republicans have some work to do. The big picture: When longtime GOP mayors like Aurora's Richard Irvin and Orland Park's Keith Pekau lost their reelection bids, it became clear that the party did not build upon their success in the November election when the suburban counties, including Cook, showed GOP gains. State of play: The Illinois Democratic Party says their candidates won 80% of their statewide elections, including in Republican strongholds like Addison and York Townships and bigger cities like Naperville and Lisle. "There was a broad rejection of what Donald Trump and the Republican Party stands for, and Illinois Democrats had perhaps one of the best nights we've ever had," Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said in a recent press conference. Reality check: The chaotic start to Trump's term, including economic uncertainty, likely influenced voters' decisions. What they're saying: "The Pritzker-led Democrats have put together an outstanding political operation," former Illinois GOP chair Pat Brady tells Axios. "And the face of the GOP is playing golf while his policies destroy the economy." "You don't need a Ph.D to figure out who comes ahead in that scenario." Between the lines: The local elections are technically nonpartisan — candidates do not declare a party on the ballot — but that doesn't mean candidates don't have party affiliations. The latest: After the surprise shellacking, Cook County GOP chair Sean Morrison resigned. "The future of our party depends on fresh, motivated, and hardworking members to step up and carry the baton forward," Morrison said in a statement. "I am confident that the next generation of Republican leaders is ready to answer the call." The intrigue: One of the only elected Republicans left standing in suburban Cook County is Palatine Highway Commissioner Aaron Del Mar. He was roasted by his party for negotiating with local Democrats to give them a seat on the township board in exchange for keeping the GOP majority, a move that looks shrewd today. The vibe: Del Mar believes that Illinois Republicans have to work across the aisle and work harder and stop ignoring smaller municipal races. "Democrats are gonna fight us at every level," Del Mar said on a recent podcast episode of the " Smoke-Filled Room." "We are going to need high-level Republican elected officials to start getting involved in these races. These used to be nonpartisan elections. Now that's out the window." What we're watching: The GOP losses could be a harbinger for the 2026 midterms, which will feature elections for governor and U.S. Senate.
