San Clemente leaders are working with U.S. Customs and Border Reserves to add cameras along the city’s beaches and marinas to arrest people trying to enter the country illegally.
City Council members asked city manager Andy Hall to meet with CBP agents on Tuesday to install and monitor the camera, which officials said was intended to curb illegal Panga Landings With boundary entries restricted,.
Mayor Steven Knoblock told The Times that South American criminals are the driving force behind action.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official patrolled a truck on the U.S.-Mexico border wall at the Imperial Beach in San Diego on January 25, 2025.
(All J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“San Clemente has had a major crime problem, and theft of rings in Chile attacks our community on a very systematic basis and remains a problem,” Noblock said via email. “Our local police services do a great job keeping our community protected. The camera program will provide additional security for our citizens.”
The city’s move comes as a push by council members to refusal to support Knoblock’s push to join Huntington Beach’s lawsuit against Gavin Newsom and Gavin Newsom and Gavin Newsom after. Atti. Rob Bonta in California Asylum Lawor California Value Law.
The law limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.
San Clemente does not have its own police force, but is patrolled by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, who said “does not enforce federal immigration laws.”
However, the camera project means the city can work with federal immigration officials. According to the Orange County Register, the mayor initially introduced the project as a local volunteer. But council members decided on Tuesday to turn to the CBP for surveillance.
Knoblock said the city recently discovered immigrants arriving through Pangas late at night and in the morning due to lack of documents. Small outboard powered boats are often used for fishing.
According to Panga ships are commonly used to smuggle immigrants and narcotics. US Immigration and Customs Execution Website. In 2021, federal agents coordinated with local authorities to stop 12 smuggling operations in Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Long Beach, San Pedro, Malibu Newport Beach and Santa Catalina Island.
According to city officials, the boats reaching San Clemente Beach have about 15 to 20 people per person.
"People observed Pangas being packed with illegal aliens, hitting our beaches, then scattered in the community or jumping into a van, the bread parked nearby and ready to receive them," Nocklock said. Many landing sites happen at night.”
Knoblock said the camera will run 24/7 and will be placed on the San Clemente Pier and multiple homeowners association structures between the northern and southern ends of the beach, providing federal agents with about seven miles of surveillance.
“I recommend using rotating telescope lenses and thermal imaging for night viewing cameras to aim at the ocean.” “This additional visibility is expected to provide interception before (immigrants) attack our beaches.”
The city also wants to provide open viewing access to the public - similar to Current live coverage San Clemente Beach.
Daily pilot staff writer Gabriel San Román contributed to the report.