POSTED: 2:02 pm EST January 20, 2007
UPDATED: 6:59 pm EST January 20, 2007
BOCA CHITA, Fla. -- More than two dozen Cuban migrants landed on the
shores of Boca Chita near Key Biscayne on Saturday and were immediately
taken into custody.
It was unclear Saturday afternoon if the 27 refugees were dropped off or
arrived in their own boat, but all were in good health, according to the
U.S. Coast Guard.
A law passed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 allows Cuban migrants to
apply for U.S. residency if they make it to shore. The mandate, called
the wet foot/dry foot law, orders them back to Cuba if they are caught
at sea.
Agents with the Department of Homeland Security took the migrants to
Black Point Marina in three boats after they were captured.
Last week, the Coast Guard repatriated 91 migrants back to Cuba after
their boat was intercepted Jan. 5 about three miles south of Marquesas, Fla.
"The Coast Guard, and it's Department of Homeland Security partners,
reiterate our important message that attempts to illegally enter the
U.S. from the sea are inherently dangerous and have resulted in serious
injury and death," Coast Guard Cmdr. Howard White said. "The Coast Guard
will continue to aggressively enforce U.S. government policy by
interdicting undocumented aliens at sea."
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