At least three dead, nine missing after illegal migrant boat capsizes near San Diego

Shawn Gibson, a special agent in charge of the US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agency, said the incident was a, "stark reminder of the dangers posed by maritime smuggling."

"The ruthless smuggling of undocumented individuals is not only illegal, it’s deadly,” Gibson said of the incident, which occurred about 30 miles north of the US-Mexico border. Read said ocean conditions off the San Diego County coast were rough at the time, with seven-foot (two-metre) seas reported.

Personnel from HSI, the US Border Patrol, the local fire department and law enforcement also responded to the scene, officials said.