Authorities are investigating two separate incidents of migrants coming ashore Sunday morning in Fort Lauderdale.
Around 7 a.m. Sunday, U.S. Border Patrol agents and members of the Broward Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of A1A just south of Commercial Boulevard after receiving reports of migrants coming ashore.
Later, at approximately 9:42 a.m., Fort Lauderdale police received a separate call about migrants coming ashore near 1010 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard.
According to Border Patrol, up to 30 people arrived illegally. So far authorities have detained nine migrants and taken them into federal custody.
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Thom Harvey, who works at a nearby beach café, saw the migrants running from a boat beached on the sand early Sunday morning.
"To go through all that to come here, I feel bad," said Harvey. "They should do it the right way, but I mean, to risk your life, you know."
It is unclear at this time where the migrants came from or whether Border Patrol has detained anyone else.
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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
