Thread: FL: Suspected illegal immigrants detained after boat washes

Suspected illegal immigrants detained after boat washes up in Ocean Ridge
By LARRY KELLER

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Law enforcement agencies apprehended 33 Haitians late Friday after their boat washed ashore in Ocean Ridge.

It's believed four people escaped, including the person or persons smuggling the group, said Robert Swathwood, agent in charge of the U.S. Border Patrol Station in West Palm Beach.


The group of 16 men, nine women and eight juveniles was rounded up after their 33-foot cabin cruiser came ashore around 11 p.m. Friday, Swathwood said. Some of the migrants said they paid $4,000 to smugglers to be transported to Florida.

With seas of 4 to 6 feet and windy conditions, "They're very lucky they didn't capsize and drown," Swathmore said. None suffered injuries, he added.

Families who were on board the vessel will be flown to a facility in Texas until their status is resolved. Five children who were unaccompanied will be taken to a Miami facility. The others will go to the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach to await arraignment, Swathwood said.

The Ocean Ridge and Manalapan police departments and the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office joined with the Border Patrol in making the arrests.

www.palmbeachpost.com

The group of 16 men, nine women and eight juveniles was rounded up. .

Five children who were unaccompanied will be taken to a Miami facility.

Some of the migrants said they paid $4,000 to smugglers

It amazes me how much money these people can pay to get here. Then we pay for them while they are here. Why do they put these children in harms way? When we try to deport we are told we are tearing apart families. I wonder how long it will take to deport this group and how much medical care they will need to make sure they are fit to travel.

Maybe they can find out where they were going and send the illegal aliens they were going to stay with back home with them. You know we just want to keep the families together. :P

Originally Posted by BigLake13

Maybe they can find out where they were going and send the illegal aliens they were going to stay with back home with them. You know we just want to keep the families together. :P

LOL Wouldn't it be nice if we could send back more than we catch each time?