MIAMI: Five Cuban migrants landed in an upscale town in the Florida Keys earlier, after making the treacherous crossing in a rustic open boat, the Miami Herald reported.
Alighting in Key Colony Beach before dawn, they accosted a policeman and were turned over to US Customs and Border Protection for processing.
“They were probably wet. You pretty much know they just got here,” police chief Kris diGiovanni told the Herald.
“If they don’t speak English and they don’t have a car, you can pretty much guess they’re migrants.”
Under US law, Cubans who make it to dry land are allowed to stay in the United States. Those intercepted offshore are sent back to Cuba.
There has been a surge of Cubans attempting the dangerous crossing since October, driven by fear that the US rapprochement with Havana may spell the end of the special treatment.
According to the US Coast Guard, about 3,000 Cubans have tried to slip into the country by sea since October.
The United States and Cuba this month restored full diplomatic relations after more than 50 years as Cold War foes.
