#4892: 2 more refugees found on Fisher Island, 1 dead (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: nozier@tradewind.net

Posted at 1:58 p.m. EDT Wednesday, August 16, 2000 
 2 more refugees found on Fisher Island, 1 dead

 BY HERALD ONLINE STAFF

 Police arrested two more refugees on Fisher Island this morning who had
arrived on a boat that landed last night with a total of 20 men and
women aboard, and one deceased passenger, a woman.  The two men detained
this morning reportedly escaped from the boat when it hit
 land last night and one of the men is being treated for a fractured
arm, said Border Patrol spokesman Joseph Mellia. Investigators at the
Miami-Dade Police Department are trying to determine the
 cause of death of one of the women on the boat. Medical examiners were
to perform an autopsy later today.  The boat, with 13 males and 7
females aboard, was found at 11:30 p.m. last night on the south side of
Fisher Island. U.S. Border Patrol agents believe that 18 of the migrants
were Haitian nationals, including the dead woman.  Two other men
operating the 24-foot boat were described by authorities as Bahamians.
Mellia said Border Patrol agents suspect the men were attempting to
smuggle the 18 refugees into the United States. The Border Patrol will
begin investigating the smuggling attempt once police complete their
investigation of the woman's death. No other injuries to the refugees'
group were reported. The remaining 19 men and women are being held at
the Pembroke Pines Border Patrol center.