Deputies find group of migrants coming ashore in Pompano Beach

US Border Patrol investigates suspected smuggling operation

By Janine Stanwood - Anchor/Reporter, Andrea Torres - Digital Reporter/Producer
Posted: 7:23 PM, May 29, 2019
Updated: 1:02 PM, May 30, 2019

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. - Broward Sheriff's Office deputies had 13 migrants in custody after they came ashore Wednesday afternoon in Pompano Beach.

Homeland Security officials are investigating the incident as a suspected smuggling operation.



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Witnesses notified authorities after they noticed an overloaded 25-foot boat coming in too quickly from the offshore off the Hillsboro Inlet.

"They were so bow-heavy I thought they were sinking," Anthony Dipilato, a Florida Sailfish Fishing Charter captain, told Local 10 News.



Dipalato said some of the migrants jumped off into the water, swam ashore and ran into the surrounding area of a condominium building in the neighborhood. Deputies searched the area.

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue personnel took a migrant woman away in an ambulance.



The rest of the migrants, some of whom had luggage, were in custody of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and were at a detention facility. A witness said he thinks he heard the migrants speaking in Creole.

Authorities later confirmed the migrants were from a total of five countries.

Below is a breakdown of the countries from where the migrants originated.

  • 4 - Jamaica
  • 3 - Haiti
  • 3 - Turkey
  • 2 - Sierra Leone
  • 1 - Bahamas


https://www.local10.com/news/florida/broward/deputies-find-group-of-migrants-coming-ashore-in-pompano-beach