Smuggling boat tragedy in southern California adds to migrant crisis

San Diego, May 3 (RHC)-- A boat believed to be illegally smuggling migrants into the United States capsized Sunday morning off the coast of San Diego, leaving three people dead and 27 others injured. 

Media sources say that while smuggling humans by sea isn't a new trend, Sunday's tragedy shines a new light on the border crisis, and it will likely put more pressure on the White House with recent record numbers of illegal crossings.

Local and federal authorities feel certain this was another mission to illegally bring migrants into the U.S. by way of sea.  The United States Customs and Border Patrol said it has every reason to believe this was a human smuggling operation, and that they have begun questioning the boat operator they believe is the chief smuggler

"The man who we believe was the operator, agents are with him, and is the suspected smuggler, but the investigation is still unfolding," Border Patrol agent Jeff Stephenson said.

This operation comes just a few days after USBP Chief Agent Aaron Heitke said his agency would increase its patrols this weekend to help curb smuggling by sea.  "We were putting more resources out in the water to interdict vessels like this and we announced it in advance to try to deter as much as we could to try and send a message to smugglers," Stephenson said Sunday at a press conference.