Boat Captains Plead Guilty in Deadly Migrant Smuggling Incidents

Nine people, including two children, died in the separate Del Mar and Imperial Beach incidents last year.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:35am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a broken life preserver against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh camera flash, conceptually representing the tragic loss of life in these migrant smuggling incidents.The grim aftermath of deadly migrant smuggling operations off the San Diego coast exposes the human toll of these dangerous criminal enterprises.San Diego Today

Three Mexican boat captains pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with two separate incidents last year in which small vessels carrying undocumented immigrants capsized off the coast of San Diego County, leaving a total of nine people dead, including a 14-year-old Indian boy and his 10-year-old sister.

Why it matters

These tragic incidents highlight the dangers and human toll of illegal migrant smuggling operations, as well as the need for stronger enforcement and deterrents to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

The details

In the first incident on May 5 off Del Mar, Jesus Ivan Rodriguez Leyva and Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna pleaded guilty to charges of bringing in aliens resulting in death and bringing in aliens for financial gain. The boat they were piloting experienced engine problems and capsized, leading to the deaths of three migrants, including the two children. In the second incident in November off Imperial Beach, David Alfonso Barrera Nunez pleaded guilty to attempting to bring in aliens resulting in death after the boat he was captaining also capsized, resulting in four migrant deaths.

  • On May 5, 2025, the boat piloted by Rodriguez and Zuniga capsized off Del Mar.
  • In November 2025, the boat piloted by Barrera capsized off Imperial Beach.

The players

Jesus Ivan Rodriguez Leyva

A 27-year-old Mexican national who pleaded guilty to charges related to the Del Mar incident.

Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna

A 31-year-old Mexican national who pleaded guilty to charges related to the Del Mar incident.

David Alfonso Barrera Nunez

The boat captain who pleaded guilty to charges related to the Imperial Beach incident.

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What they’re saying

“This case is a tragedy made worse by former Secretary Kristi Noem's unprofessional and unwarranted comments. Without her interference, this case would have concluded months ago, bringing more timely closure to the victims' families.”

— Knut Johnson, Attorney for Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna

What’s next

Rodriguez and Zuniga are scheduled to be sentenced in June, while Barrera is scheduled to be sentenced in July.

The takeaway

These tragic incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger measures to combat illegal migrant smuggling operations and prevent such devastating loss of life in the future.