11/18/2022
About 25 of who police described as Creole-speaking immigrants were turned over to federal officials after a boat hit a dock Thursday off Seaway Drive, according to Fort Pierce police.
At 5:27 p.m. Thursday, police, St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputies and St. Lucie County Fire District officials went to an address in the 400 block of Seaway Drive regarding “immigrants fleeing a vessel,” police said.
A person saw the boat, identified as the Cross Star, hit a dock and saw “a group of Creole-speaking immigrants exiting in haste.” Those on the boat included men, women and children.
Police reported there were no injuries.
Police Acting Lt. Cassandra Davis said Friday the individuals are believed to be of Haitian descent. Police suspect they entered the country illegally, but federal authorities have assumed control of the investigation.
By about 7 p.m., about 25 of the of the migrants were located and turned over to officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“They kind of all scattered,” Davis said.
Two men were discovered at Avenue J and U.S. 1 to the west, but most were found in the area of the Causeway Cove Marina, Davis said.
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