NORFOLK, Va. — At least 18 Filipino cruise ship workers were forcibly removed in handcuffs from a Carnival cruise ship at the Port of Norfolk, deported to the Philippines, and banned from re-entering the United States for a decade, sparking outrage and demands for accountability from Filipino American community leaders.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted the operation aboard the Carnival Sunshine, removing the workers who all possessed valid 10-year work visas, according to a joint statement from the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). The advocacy groups said the workers have not been charged with or found guilty of any crime, labeling the move “an alarming escalation of unjust immigration practices.”
“These crew members are dedicated parents and spouses with exemplary backgrounds, having passed rigorous background checks to obtain their work visas,” the PWC and NaFFAA said. “Their abrupt removal, accompanied by the cancellation of their visas and a shocking 10-year ban from re-entry, has inflicted deep humiliation, plunging their families into dire financial straits.”
Advocates, including Aquilina Soriano Versoza, Executive Director of the Pilipino Workers Center, said the federal agents who took the men into custody in April alleged they had found evidence of child pornography on the workers’ phones. However, Versoza stated that the agents provided “no shred of evidence, no formal charges, nothing.” She asserted that many of the workers, when confronted with the allegations, willingly handed over their phones to clear their names, only to have their visas revoked before being deported without trial or legal consultation.
Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement describing the situation as a “law enforcement matter.” “Carnival always cooperates with law enforcement investigations. We also have active training and education programs to make sure our crew members follow internet safety guidelines,” the company said.
CBP confirmed an “ongoing operation” but did not provide specific details on the Norfolk incident, according to a USA Today report.
The incident has instilled fear among the remaining crew members of the Carnival Sunshine, which began year-round cruise service from Norfolk in February. The ship’s return to Norfolk on Sunday was met with anxiety and a press conference held by the PWC, NaFFAA, immigration advocates, and faith-based leaders to demand accountability.
The advocacy groups say these actions are not isolated, but part of a “disturbing national trend” of workplace raids targeting foreign crew members on similar pretexts, despite them having valid documentation and no criminal records. Reports indicate that other cruise lines, including Viking and Pearl Seas Cruises, have also been affected by similar operations in other U.S. ports, such as in the Great Lakes region.
“Community members are outraged by this blatant mistreatment of Filipino workers and are demanding accountability from Customs and Border Patrol, Carnival Corporate and the Philippine Embassy to safeguard the rights and well-being of Filipino and other cruise ship seafarers,” the groups’ statement read.
Local news outlet WVEC reported that under federal law, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can detain suspects without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe a crime has been committed.
In response to what it called an increasing number of child pornography-related cases, the Philippine Embassy in Washington issued a general warning to Filipinos in the U.S. and on vessels in U.S. waters about the country’s strict laws, but did not comment directly on the Norfolk case. [6] The embassy urged any Filipino who feels wrongly accused to contact them for assistance.
