Haitian migrants run aground in the Florida Keys

About 350 migrants were crammed on a wooden boat in what U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) suspects was a human smuggling operation from Haiti. The boat ran aground near the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, and 163 of its occupants, including women and children, swam ashore. CBP took them into custody while the people who remained on the boat were transferred to U.S. Coast Guard vessels. Many of those who swam ashore needed medical attention.

Is this a common occurrence? This group of migrants was the third one stopped by the Coast Guard between Haiti and the United States in the past week or so. On Feb. 28 and March 4, 179 and 123 people were taken into custody, respectively. Many Haitian refugees have left because of natural disasters, political instability, and poverty. The crossing is dangerous—especially with the added risks of working with smugglers.

Dig deeper: Read Jamie Dean’s report on how Haitian churches are persevering in the face of kidnappings and gang control.