The Associated Press

December 30, 2005, 5:00 PM EST
MIAMI BEACH—Dozens of Cuban refugees, including at least nine children, came ashore Friday throughout Southern Florida, officials said.

Authorities reported at least five groups of Cubans landed at different points along the coast. In Miami Beach 28 people came ashore, said Miami Beach police officer Arley Flaherty.

The refugees were taken to immigration offices where their cases will be processed, Flaherty said.

The group that landed at Miami Beach said they left Cuba Wednesday night and that a good Samaritan picked them up at sea after their makeshift boat ran into trouble, Flaherty said.

Under the so-called wet-foot, dry-foot policy, Cubans who reach U.S. soil are usually allowed to stay, while most picked up at sea are sent home