About 100 Haitian migrants have come ashore near Hallendale Beach north of Miami in the southern U.S. state of Florida. At least one migrant died while trying to cross the treacherous Florida Straits. Some migrants swam to shore, while others jumped out onto the beach after their broken-down, 10-meter sailboat landed.
A police official said the trip from Haiti to Florida is believed to have taken about three weeks.
Coast Guard and other local officials responded to the scene, treating the migrants for dehydration. A Coast Guard spokesman said it is not clear how many people were on board the ship, or if any were children. Authorities are searching for other possible migrants.
Haitians who illegally enter the United States are generally sent back to the impoverished Caribbean country. But U.S. policy allows most Cubans who reach U.S. soil to stay.
Last year, the Coast Guard picked up more than 6,000 migrants trying to make their way to the United States. Of that number, 769 were Haitians. - VOA News
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