Posted on Wed, Jun. 04, 2008
Miami Herald staff report
For the second time this week, a group of Cuban migrants has landed in
South Florida.
This group arrived Wednesday morning in a marshy mangrove area on
Virginia Key, their denim pant legs dripping after a slog through
shallow waters.
There were eight in the group. They said they built their boat
themselves, equipping it with a two-cylinder diesel engine.
The migrants said they tried repeatedly to embark from the island only
to discover that the boat propeller was too large for the engine.
Finally, they got the boat working.
They said they spent five days at sea, although their story could not be
confirmed. The area where they landed is a popular dropping-off point
for human smugglers.
The migrants said they ditched their boat in the mangroves near the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather station.
The migrants said recently announced changes, including increased
availability of cellphones and the ability to buy one's home, had done
little to improve their lives on the island.
Under the United States' wet foot/dry foot policy, Cuban migrants who
make it to U.S. soil are generally allowed to stay, while those
interdicted at sea are usually turned back.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/558521.html
No comments:
Post a Comment