Officials respond to migrant landing near Duck Key

DUCK KEY, Fla. ā€“ A convoy of state and federal law enforcement headed to reports of stranded migrants near Duck Key Wednesday morning.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officers could be seen moving the migrants in small groups at a time off a mangrove island and bringing them to ritzy Hawkā€™s Cay.

After arriving, the group was interviewed and given water.

At one point, a medic checked a manā€™s eyes and made sure he was OK before the group was eventually taken into custody.

They said their propeller broke during their journey and was fixed at sea.

Migrant landings are happening daily in South Florida.

Wednesday also brought another day of stepped-up enforcement in the Florida Keys following an unprecedented surge of migration from Cuba and Haiti.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar confirmed that Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement officials also responded to a maritime smuggling event Tuesday night.

In that incident, he said officials encountered 12 migrants who were from Haiti, Brazil and the Bahamas.


About the Author
Janine Stanwood headshot

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

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