Cuban Migrants Arrive Near Boca Raton, Two Missing
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BOCA RATON (CBSMiami) -- A group of Cuban migrants arrived near Boca Raton Wednesday morning.
U.S. Coast Guard officials said they spotted the group while on patrol. The group of six was pulled from the water about two miles East of the city.
All of them were found in good condition. Some were being treated after displaying signs of dehydration.
They say two migrants are still missing.
At last check, Coast Guard officials were looking for them. The group told authorities they have been missing since sunset on Tuesday.
Crews from Miami, Lake Worth and Fort Lauderdale are searching by air and sea.
Chopper4 was over the scene around 12:30 p.m. A boat called '2 Amigos' that could be seen embarked on the beach. Boca Police said the migrants abandoned the boat when it started breaking apart.
Howie Wilson, visiting with his family from South Carolina, said he could appreciate the life-risking desperation.
"I wouldn't want to be in that situation. I'd want to be free, and this is free," Wilson said.
And on the sand there was sympathy for those who risk their lives to flee Cuba.
"I feel very sad for them to have to do that to get here that way. It's very sad," said Evelyn Martinez visiting from Puerto Rico.
The Coast Guard reports a dramatic increase over the last year in Cuban migrants making the dangerous attempt to reach the U.S.
It is attributed to growing detente between the United States and Cuba, which leaves many Cubans fearing the so-called wet foot/dry foot policy will be eliminated. Some think it should be.
"I don't agree with illegal immigrants," said Boca Raton resident Dora Reis, and immigrant herself. "I am not an illegal immigrant. We do have to do something."
