Thread: 5 Migrants Detained After reaching Land

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/24/1 ... _Container

5 migrants detained after reaching land

Four Haitians and one Dominican came ashore illegally north of Palm Beach County and were promptly detained by federal immigration officers, the U.S. Border Patrol announced Tuesday.

Elee Erice, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman in Pembroke Pines, said the group was the second involving undocumented Haitian migrants to reach the United States by sea since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake Jan. 12 that devastated much of Port-au-Prince. The first post-quake group of eight Haitian migrants landed Feb. 15 near Palm Beach Gardens, she said.

Two large groups of undocumented Haitian migrants were repatriated after U.S. officials intercepted overloaded vessels heading to the United States after the earthquake.

One group of 88 Haitians was returned last week and another consisting of 78 migrants was repatriated two weeks ago.

U.S. officials have said undocumented Haitians who try to reach the United States or make it to land will be sent home. But Erice said Tuesday the Haitians and one Dominican may get to stay longer because they may serve as ``material witnesses'' in smuggling cases.

The five adult males in the latest group landed at about 7:15 a.m Monday in the Martin County area of Sewall's Point, north of the Palm Beach County line.

One U.S. citizen is being held as a suspected migrant smuggler, Erice said.

-- ALFONSO CHARDY

So if Haitians make it to U.S. land, they get deported. If Mexicans make it onto U.S. land, they get welfare, jobs, and welfare benefits. RAAAACIIIISM. I think the Haitians should march in the streets.