A group of 29 Cuban migrants landed in the Florida Keys Friday. Then they scattered
Almost 30 people from Cuba arrived in the Florida Keys early Friday morning on a migrant boat and scattered as soon as they landed, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
The group of 29 people came ashore at Long Key around 2 a.m. in a makeshift vessel, said Adam Hoffner, division chief of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Miami operations.
With the help of other law enforcement agencies, all of the people were detained after several hours.
“Earlier today, U.S. Border Patrol agents and [law enforcement] partners responded to a migrant landing in the Florida Keys and encountered 29 Cuban migrants after an extensive search. We appreciate the support from all of the responding agencies,” Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol’s Miami sector, said in a statement released on Twitter.
The landing happened a day after 19 adults and 11 children arrived on a small fishing boat in Dry Tortugas National Park, the Border Patrol said.
Migrant landings have slowed since both the federal government and the state of Florida ordered more resources to South Florida and the Keys to help the Coast Guard, Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crews patrol the air and water for incoming vessels.
Although most groups who’ve landed during the latest migrant influx have typically waited for Border Patrol agents to arrive to be processed, Hoffner said it’s premature to conclude that the people who landed on Long Key ran because of the Biden administration’s announcement last month that all who arrive by boat will be sent back.
“We have encountered this in the past as well,” he said.
This story was originally published February 3, 2023 at 1:32 PM.
