Immigration
Boat carrying 300 Haitian migrants runs aground off Florida Keys
A wooden boat carrying more than 300 Haitian migrants got stuck in shallow water in the Florida Keys, federal authorities said. The U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Border Patrol, and Monroe County and Miami Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene near Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo.
March 7, 2022 4:02pm
Updated: March 8, 2022 8:40am
A wooden boat carrying more than 300 Haitian migrants got stuck in shallow water in the Florida Keys, federal authorities said.
The U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Border Patrol, and Monroe County and Miami Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene near Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo.
#HappeningNow @USCG crews are responding to a suspected migrant venture off #OceanReef. The vessel is aground w/ #CoastGuard & partner agency rescue crews on scene. Updates will happen as more info. becomes available. @mcsonews @MiamiDadeFire @MyFWC @BiscayneNPS @CBPAMORegDirSE pic.twitter.com/D0uF712KMt
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) March 6, 2022
According to authorities, the vessel came aground 300 yards from the shore.
“The condition of the vessel was reported by our partners as being in poor condition, let alone overload of the migrants, no life vests or anything like that on board," U.S. Border Patrol officer Adam Hoffner said.
While some 163 migrants were able to swim to shore, many of them required medical attention. It is still unknown how many migrants were taken to the hospital.
“The high winds were terrible conditions for anyone to be out here in the water,” Hoffner said.
Images shared by Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar on Twitter show the migrants wrapped in towels after they had made it to shore.
#BREAKINGNEWS: SMUGGLERS OVERLOAD VESSEL!#BorderPatrol agents & partner agencies are responding to another dangerous situation in the #FloridaKeys involving approx. 300 migrants…many in need of medical attention, 163 of them swam to shore. @USCGSoutheast @CBPAMORegDirSE pic.twitter.com/cK0fILl3fI
— Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (@USBPChiefMIP) March 6, 2022
Border Patrol officials believe the boat and its passengers were part of a human smuggling operation. The investigation is still ongoing.
“Initial reports show the people involved in this suspected smuggling venture are Haitian,” the agency said.
The migrants are currently in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol and will be processed accordingly, officials said.
