Coast Guard stops 12 migrants, smuggler miles away from Pompano Beach
The U.S. Coast Guard stopped 12 migrants and a suspected smuggler a few miles from Florida’s coast last week.
Just 12 miles away from Hillsboro Inlet, the Coast Guard intercepted 10 Haitian migrants, two Bahamian migrants and one suspected smuggler.
The crew of the cutter Richard Etheridge stopped the 25-foot Grady White pleasure craft with 13 people aboard. Two migrants and the smuggler were taken ashore into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and will possibly be charged, although authorities have not said for what.
The other eight Haitian migrants were taken to Haiti and one of the Bahamian migrants was taken to Bahamian authorities.
“These illegal ventures attempting to immigrate to the United States are extremely dangerous, because weather and sea conditions can dramatically change and the vessels are not equipped with the required safety equipment for passenger operations, putting lives at a higher risk of being lost at sea,” said Capt. Jason Ryan, chief of Coast Guard 7th District enforcement branch.
The Coast Guard says about 467 Haitian migrants have tried to illegally enter the United States by sea since Oct. 1, compared to 3,704 Haitian migrants last year.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 6:27 PM.
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