Incident May Reignite Controversy Over Immigration Policy

POSTED: 4:59 p.m. EST November 26, 2002

KEY WEST, Fla. -- An incident in the Florida Keys Tuesday afternoon is already reminding some people of the Elian Gonzalez controversy.

The Coast Guard said that five Cuban refugees made it to shore. But a child left behind on the boat the refugees arrived on may become the focus of a new immigration controversy.

According to Coast Guard members, a "good Samaritan" came across a 21-foot boat that had run out of gas just off Key West. Those towing the boat notified the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard boat met the boat being towed off shore.

While Coast Guard members were helping to tow in the boat, they said that they checked and found that the only two men who they knew were aboard boat had Florida drivers' licenses.

The boat was towed in to Key West, but when it got close to shore, the Coast Guard said that five men came from below deck, and jumped into the water and made it to shore.

A boy was left behind, according to the Coast Guard.

That boy, along with the two other men who were on board, were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Under current immigration policy, those who made it to shore may be allowed to stay, but typically anyone stopped while still on water will be returned to Cuba. In recent years, the immigration policy has been a source of increasing controversy in South Florida.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2002