More than 350 Haitian migrants were pulled to safety and taken into custody over the weekend after their crowded boat began to capsize off the coast of the Florida Keys.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement responded to a sinking boat roughly 25 miles south of Miami on Sunday, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman in South Florida told the Washington Examiner Monday afternoon. A total of 356 people were taken into custody. All were from Haiti and most were men, the official said.
The U.S. Border Patrol did not report any fatalities and said the boat was overcrowded due to human smugglers overloading the boat.
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“#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,” Border Patrol’s Miami Sector tweeted before issuing the revised 158 number.
#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
A Coast Guard cutter pulled 198 people from the boat, while Border Patrol agents onshore responded to 158 people who swam into the island’s Ocean Reef area, the CBP spokesman said in a phone call.
The boat’s origin has yet to be determined. CBP’s Air and Marine Operations air support assisted police, including Florida Fish and Wildlife officers.
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Water rescues and interdictions are not uncommon in South Florida, though most incidents involve fewer than 50 people and are typically Cuban citizens trying to escape.
