The Martin County Sheriff's Office says federal agents took 14 adults and two children into custody after the refugees arrived at Jupiter Island, Florida.
Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Christine Weiss says the refugees appear to be from Haiti and Colombia.
The group is made up of two children, six males and eight females, including one who is pregnant, authorities say. She was taken to a hospital for observation.
Weiss says there may be more refugees who fled before law enforcement agents arrived. Air, ground and marine units of the sheriff's office are searching the area.