Over 200 Haitian migrants are in custody after a sailboat appeared stranded off the Florida Keys.
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The Coast Guard released a statement Saturday about working with other partner agencies after responding to a call about the grounded sailboat near Key Largo. Helicopters and ships from Customs and Border Patrol rescued the stranded migrants and said some people entered the water without a lifejacket.
#BreakingNews @USCG, @mcsonews, @CBPAMO, @CBPSoutheast & other partner agencies are on scene with a grounded sailing vessel off Ocean Reef, #KeyLargo. We ask the public to please transit the area with caution and give rescue crews space. Updates will follow. #SAR pic.twitter.com/SeN5UVZu4o
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 6, 2022
“Rescue crews are safely transferring people from the grounded vessel to [Coast Guard] ships. People entered the water without #lifejackets and are being rescued,” the tweet reads.
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According to the New York Post, Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar said that the 113 migrants are in custody but are working to keep them safe and healthy by providing food and other goods.
“We’re working to keep them safe, clean, fed, and healthy and identify exactly who they are and what they may or may not have brought with them to the country. This is an ongoing investigation, and we are trying to identify the smugglers who crammed these people onto that vessel.”
#BREAKING: 113 migrants from #Haiti were taken into #BorderPatrol custody after making landfall near Key Largo, #Florida. @USCGSoutheast & @CBPAMORegDirSE partners rescued the migrants who remained onboard the vessel. We appreciate the support from all of our partners on scene. pic.twitter.com/HdOHmDShSm
— Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (@USBPChiefMIP) August 6, 2022
Slosar said Customs and Border Patrol is working on transferring the migrants into custody and taking them through the immigration process.
#Update: @USCG ships have 218 Haitians from #Haiti aboard.
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 7, 2022
Fox News reported that northern Key Largo’s coast had become a frequent destination of Haitian immigrants since November. Slosar wrote in a follow-up statement on Twitter that agents arrested 263 migrants after Border Patrol responded to 16 migrant landings in Florida.
In a two day period, #BorderPatrol agents & LE partners responded to 16 migrant landings in #Florida & arrested 263 migrants. All of the events involved makeshift, overloaded vessels. We urge migrants to avoid these #dangerous voyages that can potentially result in loss of life. pic.twitter.com/bnyvyvElq6
— Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (@USBPChiefMIP) August 7, 2022