While other cities are passing sanctuary resolutions or doubling down on their sanctuary status, another Orange County city is teaming up with the federal government to help keep undocumented immigrants out of the country.
Last week, the San Clemente City Council directed City Manager Andy Hall to begin working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on a plan to monitor the city’s beaches for illegal entry. The city will set up cameras along the shore and at the pier. Seven miles will be surveilled 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Compared to land crossings, the number of unauthorized migrants who come into the U.S. by boat is relatively small. But it does happen. Mayor Steven Knoblock told the Los Angeles Times that residents “have observed pangas crammed with illegal aliens, hitting our beach, and then scattering in the community or jumping into a van, which is parked nearby and ready to receive them.”
He added that Chilean burglary rings have been a big problem in the city. Boats are sometimes used for drug smuggling operations as well.
San Clemente does not have its own police department. Instead, officials will work directly with CBP, which will carry out the beach surveillance. That will allow the city to have the beaches monitored without violating the state’s sanctuary law, SB 54.
Another Orange County city, Huntington Beach, is suing the state over its sanctuary law. Mayor Knoblock wanted his city to join the lawsuit, but San Clemente city leaders voted it down.