Migrant Groups Demand Answers After Cruise Workers Detained in San Diego

Key facts

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents detained cruise ship workers in San Diego.
• Dharmi Mehta, a passenger, witnessed and recorded the detention of Disney Magic crew members on April 23.
• Union del Barrio claims 10 Disney employees and 4 Holland America employees were detained.
• Detained workers were reportedly still in uniform and lacked personal belongings.
• Migrant rights groups are demanding transparency and protection for cruise line employees.
• The Port of San Diego Harbor Police stated they had no involvement in the enforcement actions.
• Holland America confirmed cooperation with law enforcement investigations.

Cruise Ship Workers Detained at San Diego Port

A passenger aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship witnessed and recorded U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents escorting crew members off the vessel in restraints on April 23. Dharmi Mehta, who was disembarking at San Diego's B Street Pier, described the scene as "unsettling," particularly recognizing her head waiter among those being detained. The incident occurred shortly after Disney announced an increase in its cruise ship stops in San Diego, a development that has now been overshadowed by demands for greater protection of maritime workers. The detained crew members were reportedly still in their Disney-issued uniforms and did not have their personal belongings, raising immediate concerns for Mehta about their ability to contact family. She observed several other crew members being loaded into a white van surrounded by federal agents. The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department later clarified that they had no involvement in these enforcement actions, adhering to California law that prohibits participation in immigration enforcement. This event has galvanized migrant rights groups, who claim it is part of a growing pattern of detentions affecting workers in the maritime industry. They are calling for increased transparency from federal agents and greater accountability from cruise lines regarding employee welfare during such encounters.

Allegations of a Wider Pattern of Detentions

The detentions on the Disney Magic are not being treated as an isolated event by local immigration advocacy groups. Union del Barrio, alongside other community organizations, held a news conference on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the initial incident, to demand answers and highlight what they describe as a disturbing trend. Benjamin Prado, a representative from Union del Barrio, stated that similar detentions occurred two days later, on April 25, involving four "seafarers" from Holland America's MV Zandaam. These groups assert that approximately 10 Disney employees and four Holland America employees were taken into custody by CBP agents. Prado characterized these actions as "abductions," alleging that the detained individuals are being denied due process and access to consular services. Activists are particularly concerned about the crew members from the Holland America ship, who are reportedly from the Philippines, and fear they may have already been deported. The Philippine Consulate in San Diego has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the matter.

Demands for Transparency and Worker Protections

Migrant rights groups are demanding greater transparency from federal agents regarding the reasons for the arrests, the current whereabouts of the detained individuals, and whether warrants were produced. Mehta expressed her primary concerns: "what will happen to them, where will they go, how do they go home, do they still have a job and do they know what resources are available to them?" These organizations are also urging cruise lines to take more proactive steps to protect their employees. They believe that companies have a responsibility to ensure their workers are not subjected to such abrupt detentions without support or information. The groups are calling on society and working people to denounce these actions by Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While CBP stated they are working on a response to inquiries, they had not provided details at the time of reporting. Cruise lines have also been largely unresponsive. Holland America confirmed its cooperation with law enforcement investigations in jurisdictions where it operates, referring further questions to CBP, while Disney has not commented on the matter.

Jurisdiction and Cruise Line Policies

Maritime attorney Michael Winkleman noted that CBP possesses jurisdiction over any ship within a U.S. port, as do other federal agencies. This legal framework means that federal law enforcement can conduct operations aboard vessels docked in American waters. Disney's website outlines various requirements for its onboard positions, including minimum experience, the ability to obtain a passport, passing background and medical checks, and securing proper visas. These stipulations underscore the complex international nature of cruise line employment and the potential vulnerabilities of workers navigating different legal jurisdictions. However, the specific circumstances leading to the detentions remain unclear, with Winkleman suggesting "it really could have been any number of other things" beyond immigration enforcement. The lack of clear communication from CBP and the silence from the cruise lines leave many questions unanswered about the fate of the detained workers.

Port Authority Denies Involvement

The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department has explicitly stated its non-involvement in the enforcement actions that took place on April 23 and April 25 at the B Street Cruise Terminal. According to their statement, the department received no calls for service related to these incidents. In accordance with California law, specifically SB 54, the Harbor Police confirmed they do not participate in immigration enforcement activities. This declaration aims to distance local law enforcement from the federal operation and highlight the distinction between state and federal immigration enforcement powers. Despite this clarification, the incidents have sparked significant concern among local immigrant rights groups, who are pressing for answers and greater protections for vulnerable workers within the cruise industry.

The bottom line

• Cruise ship workers from Disney and Holland America lines were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in San Diego.
• Passenger Dharmi Mehta witnessed and documented the detention of Disney Magic crew members on April 23.
• Migrant rights groups allege these detentions are part of a broader pattern affecting maritime workers.
• Activists are demanding transparency from CBP and greater protections for cruise line employees.
• The Port of San Diego Harbor Police denied any involvement in the enforcement actions.
• Cruise lines have offered limited comment, with Holland America confirming cooperation with law enforcement.