A little more than 120 Haitian migrants hopped off a vessel and made their way onto land via a Summerland Key residence’s beach on the morning of March 14.
U.S. Customs & Border Patrol agents, U.S. Coast Guard responded to the scene at a private property beach where the migrants were landing. They were joined by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officers and Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies. Around 11:30 a.m. a good Samaritan notified law enforcement that a suspected migrant vessel was nearing running aground with around 100 people on board.
Eventually, the dilapidated vessel ran aground near a residential shoreline on Summerland Key. CBP said migrants onboard the vessel jumped off and safely swam ashore.
Law enforcement responding immediately were able to secure the area without further incident and render first aid to migrants who were dehydrated. The group — totaling 123 — told officials that they had left La Tortue Island in Haiti on March. 9.
“It’s a great coordinated response between our state, federal and local partners, making sure we get medical and safety checks and get these individuals processed and transported to our station,” Customs & Border Patrol’s Chief Agent, Walter Slosar, said following the migrant landing.
Migrants were transported to Marathon and Dania Beach Border Patrol Stations for further processing and will be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. CBP said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
It’s one of a number of migrant landing cases off the Florida Keys in recent weeks. On March 6, some 356 Haitian migrants were intercepted just off Ocean Reef Club in North Key Largo. A total of 198 Haitian migrants in the custody of the U.S. Coast Guard were repatriated via the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous’ crew on March 11.
“The Coast Guard maintains a strong relationship with our partner agencies and Haitian authorities, allowing us to work together to protect lives at sea,” said Capt. Adam Chamie, Commander of Sector Key West. “These grossly overloaded vessels operate without proper safety equipment and are not built for these hazardous voyages which can lead to casualties.”
The other 158 migrants were in the custody of Customs & Border Patrol and were going through removal hearings.
On March 13, the Coast Guard transferred 127 Haitians and Cuban nationals to Bahamian authorities. In one rescue, three people stranded on an island near Anguilla were located and brought on board a Coast Guard cutter. Another rescue saw an overloaded sailing vessel 41 miles offshore of Anguilla Cay. All migrants were reported in good health.
“The Coast Guard maintains a persistent presence patrolling the waters around Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, to help prevent loss of life,” said Lt. Cmdr. Salomee Briggs, Coast Guard District Seven Legal. “Taking to the sea is very dangerous, we urge you not to risk you and your loved-ones’ lives.”
On March 14, Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma’s crew repatriated 84 Haitians to Haitian authorities, following two interdictions of undocumented migrants. A good Samaritan notified Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders Sunday, at about 1:50 p.m., of an overloaded sail freighter approximately 43 miles south of Turk and Caicos Island. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier’s crewmembers notified Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders Thursday, at about 12 a.m., of an overloaded sail freighter approximately 60 miles east of Punta De Maisi, Cuba.
In both interdictions, the migrants were removed from their vessels due to safety of life at sea concerns.
“The Coast Guard is significantly increasing its patrols of the Windward Pass and the approaches to the southeastern United States to interdict and rescue migrants found aboard grossly overloaded, unseaworthy vessels,” said Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson, Coast Guard District Seven Commander. “These illegal voyages are always dangerous and often deadly. We are working closely with our DHS and DOD partners to prevent these illegal migrant ventures and protect migrants from unscrupulous smugglers. Anyone attempting to enter the U.S. illegally by sea should expect to be repatriated once interdicted.”
To date, 1,577 Haitian migrants have been rescued by Coast Guard crews. It’s surpassed the 1,527 Haitians rescued between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021.
