Florida officials close off national park after hundreds of migrants arrive via boats

At least 500 migrants landed along the Florida Keys over the last several days, prompting officials to temporarily close an isolated national park. The closure will last for several days.

The park has recently seen an influx of migrants arriving by boat from Cuba. On the weekend, around 300 migrants arrived at the Dry Tortugas National Park and more than 160 migrants also arrived at different parts of the Florida Keys. 

The National Park Service announced Monday that the park would be closed so that law enforcement and medical personnel could evaluate the migrants before moving them elsewhere.

“Refugee arrivals require a lot of resources from the Sheriff’s Office as we help our federal law enforcement partners ensure the migrants are in good health and safe,” Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said. The sheriff’s office said there has been a “spike” in migrant landings since Saturday.

Monroe County will be managing the spike alongside Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard.