RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said a group of migrants was taken into custody Wednesday after landing on Peanut Island.
Officials said that 13 men, five women and three children, docked at the island in the Intracoastal Waterway between Riviera Beach and Palm Beach, at about 2 p.m. Authorities have not said where the migrants came from though the Coast Guard has intercepted boats previously from Haiti and Cuba. On Wednesday, 32 were repatriated to Cuba after two interdictions in the Caribbean Sea due to safety of life at sea concerns.
In Palm Beach County, witnesses described a heavy law enforcement presence at the time the migrants came ashore.
“I saw the police boats and stuff out there, I had no idea why, but I knew something was going on," Phil Jacobson said.
Jacobson also described seeing helicopters, at least one of which was from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
"They were just doing circles," Jacobson said.
A lifeguard who patrols a nearby beach also told NewsChannel 5 he saw a heavy police presence.
"I was in the [lifeguard] tower and I was looking at Peanut Island, and I heard the helicopters first, there were two of them," said the lifeguard, who asked NewsChannel 5 not to share his name. "There were two Coast Guard boats, and a couple of sheriff boats as well, a lot of lights, stuff like that.”
Jacobson said he was worried for the migrants after hearing two children were onboard the boat.
"I hope they’re OK," Jacobson said. "I work on yachts and I'm a captain, so I know what it's like on the ocean.”
Jacobson said he's worried, but not surprised at the migrant landing.
"It happens a lot here actually," said Jacobson, "It's picked up, absolutely.”
According to a tweet from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar, migrant encounters for the Miami Sector, which includes West Palm Beach, have increased by 500% this year compared with the same time last year.
The Miami sector responded to 2,350 migrant encounters this year.
“I did see a migrant landing a few weeks ago actually," said Andrew Daviston, who tried to see the boat from Phil Foster Park.
Daviston said he wonders what the solution to the uptick in migrants is, knowing there is no simple answer.
"I just pray that, you know, everyone does the right thing in these situations," said Daviston.
NewsChannel 5 has reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as Homeland Security Investigations, as we're told both agencies will now be taking over for PBSO.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection told us they are processing our inquiry and will get back to us.
As of right now, they have not confirmed the nationality of the migrants.
