Florida

Cuban Migrants Come Ashore in South Florida on Makeshift Boat

More than a dozen Cuban migrants survived the treacherous Florida Straits and landed in South Florida. They were spotted ashore the Florida Keys.

4 men, 6 women, 3 girls and two boys, some of them just toddlers, made the journey from Cuba to South Florida. When they set foot on American soil in Marathon, they got a new life.

They are reportedly from Santa Clara. Border Patrol said they sailed the journey on a makeshift boat.

NBC 6 was told they were at sea for five days since last Thursday. They'll be taken to Catholic Charities, then with the wet foot dry foot law, they'll basically be set free.

Monday's migrant arrival came just after 11 men, a woman and a dog came ashore on 17th Street on Miami Beach. The first thing they did was wear the American flag.

Despite the Pope's visit to Cuba spreading his message of hope, and diplomatic relations being restored between the U.S. and the island nation, Cubans are still risking their lives out on the ocean to get here.

A Border Patrol agent said numbers are on the rise, though he wouldn't comment on why.

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