POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Authorities have detained 11 people after the Broward Sheriff’s Office was notified that a boat carrying migrants came ashore in Pompano Beach.
According to BSO spokesman Carey Codd, deputies and BSO’s marine units responded to the Hillsboro Inlet Marina around 10:50 a.m. after they were notified that the migrants had come ashore in the 2700 block of North Riverside Drive.
A Local 10 News crew was at the marina as authorities had several people seated on the sidewalk in handcuffs.
Several other people were speaking with authorities onboard a nearby boat, including a young boy.
A witness, identified only as Chris, told Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez that he saw deputies pursuing several people who got off the boat and started running away.
“They were about to run aground but BSO waived them off the jetty and after they waved them off (they) came to the inlet,” he said. “They were going to try and make a run.”
Codd said Border Patrol took custody of the migrants.
“Trying to look for freedom, a better life, right?” one witness, Armando Ramos, said.
The migrants who were handcuffed refused to answer Vazquez when asked where they were from.
Of the 11 migrants that were detained, one was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
A preliminary report indicated that the migrants came from several countries: Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Click here to receive breaking news alerts from Local10.com.