Cuban migrants come down after standoff on lighthouse off Sugarloaf Key

Coast Guard established safety zone near American Shoal Light

KEY WEST, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard spent hours trying to get a group of Cuban migrants off a lighthouse in the Florida Keys.

A total of 19 Cuban migrants climbed up the American Shoal Light off Sugarloaf Key on Friday and were refusing to come down, Lt. Cmdr. Pete Zauner said.

The group eventually came down from the lighthouse and boarded Coast Guard boats.

Zauner said the Coast Guard was in contact with the migrants. He said a 1,000-yard safety zone has been established in the area.

The cast iron lighthouse is 109 feet tall and was built in 1880.

"Our main concern is the safety and well-being of the (19) people currently on American Shoal Light," Zauner said.

The Coast Guard had been asking that all boaters observe the safety zone.

Zauner said a good Samaritan spotted a group of 22 migrants on a "rustic jug" about four miles from Cudjoe Key sometime Friday morning. When the Coast Guard arrived, they found 19 of the migrants making their way up the lighthouse.

Under the U.S. "wet foot, dry foot" policy, Cubans who reach U.S. soil are typically allowed to stay, while those who are intercepted at sea are sent back.

Zauner said the lighthouse is considered to be a "wet foot" situation.


About the Authors:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.