Dry Tortugas National Park, located 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, was closed at 8 a.m. on Monday while law enforcement and medical personnel evaluated, provided care and coordinated transport for the migrants. The closure is expected to last several days.
Concession-operated ferry and seaplane services to the park were also suspended. The park said in a tweet that the closure was necessary for the safety of visitors and staff due to the resources and space needed to attend to the migrants.
The influx of migrants is concerning to U.S. officials, who are worried about a potential influx of migrants from Cuba and Haiti. The migrants who arrived at the park over the weekend are believed to have come from those countries.
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently working with the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the situation and determine the migrants’ next steps. It is unclear when the park will reopen to the public.
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