19 Cubans Arrive in Key West, 9 Haitians in Palm Beach

Two groups of illegal migrants made it ashore in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = u1 />South Florida Thursday morning.  According to the Sun Sentinel newspaper,  19 Cuban migrants made to the backyard of the home of a Naval Air Station commander in Key West. 

They apparently arrived in a homemade boat.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />The naval captain said all 19 appeared to be in good condition.  They are expected to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Under U.S. policy, Cubans found on shore are generally allowed to stay, while those found at sea are usually returned.

About 220 miles to the north, nine Haitian migrants were apprehended at about 6:30am in the Mar-a-Lago area of the Town of Palm Beach after landing in a boat and trying to escape on shore.   According to U.S. Border Patrol, the boat left from the Bahamas late Wednesday night. No one was hurt and the migrants were being held at the U.S. Border Patrol Station in West Palm Beach.