100 Haitians flee US holding camp in melee

December 29, 1981

More than 100 Haitian refugees fled a detention camp during a riot Sunday, officials said Monday. Immigration and Naturalization Service officials said all was quiet at the Krome Avenue detention camp since riot-equipped police were called Sunday afternoon to stop a protest demonstration that turned into a rock- and bottle-throwing melee.

The Immigration Service initially reported only 20 Haitians had escaped during the melee, but a head count later showed that more than 100 had escaped.