HILLSBORO BEACH, Fla. – A boat that was carrying migrants from Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas was found ashore Hillsboro Beach Friday morning.
A spokeswoman from the town of Hillsboro Beach told Local 10 News that the town’s police officers, as well as Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies, initially spotted 10 migrants who came ashore near the 1000 block of Hillsboro Beach.
Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security and BSO’s aviation and marine units all responded to the scene.
The 10 migrants were immediately apprehended.
Authorities said five additional migrants were found a short time later and were also taken into custody.
All 15 have been turned over to Border Patrol and are expected to be repatriated to their home countries.
“Fortunately, no members of the group were injured during this dangerous journey across the rough seas," said Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin, U.S Border Patrol, Miami Sector. "Smugglers are not concerned with the safety of the people they are smuggling, rather they continue to put the lives of migrants at risk.”