SINGER ISLAND, Fla. -- Police canvased beaches, tree lines and roadways this morning Singer Island looking for undocumented migrants who came ashore this morning.
"I kept hearing celebration and yelling, so I didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing," explained Singer Island resident 'Dee.' "I came to the balcony and then I saw migrants coming up. They had already come out of the boat. Then I came inside and contacted 911."
Border Patrol says the majority of the undocumented migrants are from Haiti. They came ashore near the 5200 block of North Ocean Drive. Dee says this is the first time she's seen undocumented migrants this close to home.
"I've heard about it at least three or four times but I've never actually seen it," Dee said. "They were just hugging each other. They were so excited and then I got concerned because I saw them trying to get into the Reaches, but they couldn't get in and they continued to walk towards MacArthur Park.
Twenty-eight of the undocumented migrants are currently in U.S Border Patrol custody. One was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Dee says she is not concerned about her safety, but instead is worried about the undocumented migrants."I mean they're human beings and they're trying to come here for a better life, but I'm a U.S. citizen and it's my responsibility to report any illegal activity."
U.S Border Patrol says they're still investigating to determine the person or persons behind the arrival of the undocumented migrants. Right now the undocumented migrants in custody are being finger printed, screened and processed before being turned over to immigration and customs.
Original Story:
Riviera Beach police said 28 undocumented migrants came ashore on Singer Island Wednesday morning.
U.S. Border Patrol said they were notified of the situation around 7:45 a.m.
According to a news release from Riviera Beach police spokeswoman Rose Anne Brown, 20 men, six women and two children are in custody. All appear to be Haitian.
The boat came ashore in the 5400 block of North Ocean Dr.
Fifteen migrants were found in the 4500 block of North Ocean Dr. Thirteen of the other migrants were found in John D. MacArthur State Park.
Border Patrol said one of the migrants was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
