Police and government vehicles filled the plaza at the top of Duval Street around 5 p.m. Sunday, after a fishing boat pulled up to the pier there and dropped off a dozen or so Eastern Europeans who said they had been in Cuba.
“We’re still determining what’s going on. This isn’t a typical Cuban or Haitian migrant landing,” Key West Police Sgt. Pablo Rodriguez said while a federal agent worked with other officers sorting the people’s passports. “We’re going to take them to the police station so they’re not sitting out here in the heat. They’ve all been very polite, nice people.”
The Keys Weekly spoke briefly with one of the Eastern Europeans, all of whom were seated at tables inside the Southernmost Beach Cafe with luggage and duffel bags next to them. They were well dressed and their clothes were not wet as if they had waded ashore. Most had smartphones they were using while awaiting further instructions.
“We are from Uzbekistan and other former Soviet republics,” the man, who spoke fluent English, said. “We were in Cuba for a few days, and then we took a boat here to Key West.”At that point a Key West police officer instructed the Keys Weekly, “These people are technically in custody and you are not allowed to speak with them.” The man apologized and shrugged his shoulders.
The boat, called Just Right, which apparently brought the travelers to Key West from Cuba, was still docked at the South Street pier while its passengers were being questioned inside the restaurant.
Stay tuned to keysweekly.com as further details emerge.
