Police are canvassing the neighborhoods and bridges on Palm Beach Thursday morning looking for migrants that came ashore overnight.
NBC affiliate WPTV in West Palm Beach reports that a Palm Beach police captain said 15 migrants were already found and are in custody, including at least 10 that were spotted walking along South Ocean Boulevard and hiding on residents’ property.
Police said they typically try to hide out in backyards and other dimly lit areas to avoid capture, which can be very unsafe for residents.
Officials believe the migrants are mostly Haitian and two others from the Bahamas.
"The safety of the residents and also and being the fact we have an open border just to control immigrants coming into our shores and making are everything is safe for or community,” said Capt. Mick Keehan of the Palm Beach Police Department.
A towing company picked up a small white boat around 4 a.m. that was left ashore. Keehan said the vessel may have become stuck on shore since boats that land migrants usually drop the people off and then leave the scene.
Police are looking at the cameras they have on area bridges to aid their efforts looking for more migrants.
