Officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have confirmed that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents arrested 23 cruise workers — some taken from a Disney Cruise ship, plus seven other vessels — amid an investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
CBP said officers detained and interviewed 28 suspected crew members. There were 26 from the Philippines, one from Portugal, and one from Indonesia. 27 of the 28 are allegedly involved in “the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing” of child sexual exploitation material or child pornography, according to ABC News. The staffers’ visas were canceled and they were reportedly deported to their home countries.
In viral videos from one incident, dated April 23, CBP officials detained several workers from a Disney cruise ship. The vessel was docked at the B Street Pier in San Diego, California. The employees, shown in their uniforms, were escorted in handcuffs by CBP officers. Agents then escorted them away in a CBP transport vehicle.
On April 25, community groups reported CBP officers also detained 4 more Filipino nationals. Authorities found them working aboard the MV Zandaam of the Holland America Cruise Line.
HSI San Diego Releases Statement Confirming Arrests Of Cruise Line Workers Amid Child Sex Material Investigation
On Friday (May 8), HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) San Diego released a statement. According to CBS 8, it read:
“On April 28, HSI San Diego arrested 23 crew members from multiple cruise ships at the Port of San Diego as part of Operation Tidal Wave. The arrests targeted individuals suspected of involvement with Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), based on information received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The arrestees were transported to Los Angeles for processing, and their visas were revoked.”
Holland America Line released the following statement:
“This is a law enforcement matter and we cooperate with law enforcement investigations in jurisdictions where we operate. Any questions should be directed to Customs and Border Patrol.”
The Port of San Diego also released the following statement:
“The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department did not have any involvement in the reported enforcement actions on April 23 or April 25 at the B Street Cruise Terminal. We did not receive any calls for service related to these incidents. In accordance with California law, including SB 54, Harbor Police does not participate in immigration enforcement activities.”
The B Street Cruise Terminal is a federal port of entry, where law enforcement authority for immigration and customs matters rests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As such, any enforcement actions taken onboard vessels or within the federal inspection area fall under CBP’s jurisdiction.
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