27 Migrants Come Ashore In Virginia Key
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VIRGINIA KEY (CBSMiami) – A group of migrants came ashore in Miami-Dade County on Sunday.
27 immigrants arrived on short in Virginia Key after spending eight days at sea, according to witnesses. At least 15 of them were arrested, the Department of Homeland Security said.
The migrants had blisters and were dehydrated, witnesses said.
"They have sun blisters, sunspots, dehydration," a witness told CBS4's Amber Diaz. "They've been out there with nothing."
They came in on a wooden boat that witnesses said the migrants made themselves.
Witnesses said they were on the beach with their families when a makeshift wooden boat came towards them.
"They got into the water they ran out they were all wet," another witness said.
Helping the nearly starved and exhausted group was something witnesses said they don't regret.
"We took them to our table we gave them food we gave them water," Juan Montoya said. "I took out my phone and they got in contact with their families."
They said they were happy to have fed the group who had been surviving off a loaf of bread.
"Everybody comes here and I know its messed up but everybody comes here for a better opportunity in their life
13 adult men and one adult female were treated by Miami Fire-Rescue.
The remaining migrants scattered, according to witnesses, who say the youngest was around 16 years old. The City of Miami closed the park and continued looking for the others who took off. The park reopened later Sunday afternoon.