KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Local and federal authorities responded to a migrant landing on Key Biscayne Friday morning and two additional landings in the Florida Keys.
The Key Biscayne landing happened at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on the southern part of the island.
According to the U.S. Border Patrol, 10 migrants from Cuba were apprehended after some were reported to have swam to shore. Among the group were a woman and a teenage boy.
“We continue to want migrants of these dangers associated with illegal migration by sea,” said Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Adam Hoffner. “In the event today in Key Biscayne, the migrants reported they spent over eight days at sea.”
Earlier on Friday, there were two other migrant landings in the Upper Keys.
A video from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission showed a homemade vessel near mangroves in Tavernier. U.S. Border Patrol confirms 14 people were onboard.
In Islamorada, 19 were taken into custody after making a voyage on a barely seaworthy boat with a fuel drum attached to the side. Several in that group were taken to an area hospital for evaluation.
All are believed to be from Cuba.
Since Oct. 1 , the beginning of the fiscal year, CBP statistics show agents have already already responded to 15 migrant landings in South Florida—a roughly 200% increase from the same time period the year before.
“These vessels often suffer engine failures. The weather, the tides, can impact their routes,” Hoffner said. “These migrants can be faced with potentially spending weeks at sea without any water or supplies.”