A Dominican national pleaded guilty to operating an illegal migrant smuggling operation that resulted in the death of 11 people, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported.

Fermin Montilla, a 45-year old Dominican national, pleaded guilty after being charged with “bringing aliens to the United States at a place other than a designated point of entry resulting in death,” a press release from the DOJ found.

“According to court documents, Montilla was involved in a maritime human smuggling venture that attempted to bring migrants illegally to the United States,” the press release explains.

The illegal migrant smuggler, who now faces a sentence of up to life in prison, attempted to smuggle 48 illegal immigrants into the United States in 2022. Montilla was among 38 people who were rescued by the United States Coast Guard after his vessel capsized off the coast of Puerto Rico.

The case comes as migrant fatalities have surged in recent years. Data from the International Organization for Migration, a pro-mass immigration organization associated with the United Nations, indicates that there were 686 migrant deaths along the land route leading to the southern border in 2022 alone.

Illegal immigrants have also attempted to enter the United States by sea under the Biden-Harris administration, which has presided over an unprecedented immigration crisis. One video from December documented a migrant landing on the beaches of Malibu, with 25 illegal aliens rushing out of a 25-foot boat and onto the shore of one of the wealthiest communities in the United States.

The Daily Wire exclusively reported just weeks later that the Coast Guard suspected that there was a “possible migrant landing” in Malibu, California.

Exclusive: Coast Guard Suspects ‘Migrant Landing’ In Malibu, Second In Weeks On California Coast pic.twitter.com/O77rCA9UXy

— Spencer Lindquist 🇺🇸 (@SpencerLndqst) December 20, 2023

Over 10 million people have crossed the border under the Biden-Harris administration, with an estimated 1.7 million illegal immigrant gotaways recorded since Biden was inaugurated in 2021. There were a total of 415,000 reported gotaways for 2018, 2019, and 2020 during the Trump administration.

Rachel Vindman, whose husband Alexander Vindman was a key witness in the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump, backpedaled on Monday after facing a virtual tidal wave of backlash for something she said about the second assassination attempt on Trump’s life.

In her initial post, Vindman referenced the first assassination attempt — which took place on July 13th in Pennsylvania — where firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed, two others were seriously injured, and Trump was shot in the ear. Because the shooter on Sunday was apprehended without ever firing a shot at Trump, she said. “No ears were harmed. Carry one with your Sunday afternoon.”

She later doubled down, saying that she was not even a little bit sorry for “triggering” people with her comment. But by Monday, she had changed her tune.

Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!

“I have deleted my tweet. It was flippant & political violence is a serious issue,” she said via X. “Whether it’s aimed at a former president, the media, immigrants, or political ‘enemies’ & every incident should be addressed appropriately if we want to change the tenor of our political discourse.”

I have deleted my tweet. It was flippant & political violence is a serious issue. Whether it’s aimed at a former president, the media, immigrants, or political “enemies” & every incident should be addressed appropriately if we want to change the tenor of our political discourse.

— Rachel Vindman 🇺🇸🦅🌻 (@natsechobbyist) September 16, 2024

Vindman continued her thoughts in a brief thread, pivoting immediately from her apology into a justification of her initial comments and the suggestion that she, in fact, was the real victim.

“I have sat awake many nights wondering who might be outside. I have known the instant fear of receiving an unknown package or letter. I have had my child ask me if we were safe and if someone was going to hurt our family,” she said.

With social media it’s easy to say the wrong thing and then walk away, but if words matter for some they should matter for all. I don’t always get it right the first time. I’m grateful to all who have supported us throughout the past five years.

— Rachel Vindman 🇺🇸🦅🌻 (@natsechobbyist) September 16, 2024

“With social media it’s easy to say the wrong thing and then walk away, but if words matter for some they should matter for all. I don’t always get it right the first time. I’m grateful to all who have supported us throughout the past five years.”

Critics were not sure she meant it, however, and responded accordingly.

“I’m normally pretty forgiving about this stuff, but have a hard time believing this. The Vindmans have consistently been supremely narcissistic, they doubled down on her tweet for hours and this is happening only after it’s proven politically damaging,” Mark Hemingway posted.

I’m normally pretty forgiving about this stuff, but have a hard time believing this. The Vindmans have consistently been supremely narcissistic, they doubled down on her tweet for hours and this is happening only after it’s proven politically damaging. https://t.co/8jcZ2wKyqZ

— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) September 16, 2024

“She went from ‘sorry you’re triggered. I mean no I’m not. I don’t care a little bit’ to ‘political violence is a serious issue,'” Greg Price added.

She went from “sorry you’re triggered. I mean no I’m not. I don’t care a little bit” to “political violence is a serious issue.” https://t.co/G03nZ9OQ1F pic.twitter.com/elEEyAY94Q

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 16, 2024

Vindman’s brother-in-law is currently running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia.