18 Filipino cruise ship workers deported, banned from U.S. despite valid visas

[LiberalArkie]

July 21, 2025

At least 18 Filipino workers aboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship were reportedly handcuffed, removed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), deported to the Philippines, and banned from entering the United States for 10 years, according to Filipino American advocacy groups.

The workers, who were not charged with any crime, held valid 10-year U.S. visas. Filipino community leaders, including the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), called the incident “an alarming escalation of unjust immigration practices.”

“These crew members are devoted parents and spouses who passed strict background checks. Their sudden removal and visa cancellation have left their families in financial hardship,” the joint statement read.

CBP confirmed the operation but gave no details. USA Today reported that the workers were previously cleared to work legally in the U.S.

Snip

https://filipinotimes.net/latest-news/2025/07/21/18-filipino-cruise-ship-workers-deported-banned-from-u-s-despite-valid-visas/

[creon]

1. it looks like a quota

It appears to me that ICE has orders to get people every day.It does not matter who or where.
ICE is to stay away from anyone who is a danger to ICE.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. The ICE quota is reportedly to exceed 3,000 detentions a day. Hence mad rush to build gulags. . . . nt

[creon]

11. yes

People who to get are picking harmless people, People who wont make a scene or be violent.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Hey maga! Got great job for you! Clean toilets & travel the world for low wages! . . . . nt

[Irish_Dem]

4. I once met Filipino cruise ship workers.

Years ago, I went on a three day cruise out of Florida.

I interacted with the Filipino workers and talked with them.
(I always like to interact with the people in my environment and get to know them.)

I found them polite and well mannered to a fault.
Devoted family men who sent their paychecks back home.
Hard workers who did everything perfectly.
They were kind of a force of nature.

[DFW]

5. Filipinos are the backbone of the cruise industry

They are hard-working, generally good-natured reliable people, and the only reason to pull a counterproductive stunt like this is to fill a quota. If their papers were in order, then the actions of the ICE contractors were not. The government-hired thugs can be glad that a cruise ship’s crew would never be as well-armed as they are, because if Noem’s thugs had—as usual—no documented legitimatization on them, they are the ones committing the felony, and they crew would have had every right to defend themselves with all means at their disposal.

[FBaggins]

9. Don't be ridiculous

Not about the "backbone of the cruise industry". That part is clearly true

But cruise ships are foreign-flagged vessels (with the exception of one NCL ship in Hawaii). CBP can board them at any time in US ports.

[FBaggins]

6. There have been scores of Filipinos taken in recent months from cruise ships

The accusations appear to imply a CP ring… which would be a good enough reason to me… but no evidence (let alone charges or convictions) has been offered to back up the claim.

[Katinfl]

7. Since they were employed by Carnival, wouldn't Carnival be responsible to get them back?

They were legally employed with visas by a big corporation. Isn’t anyone willing to stand up to this cruelty?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

8. I read yesterday...

...that Carnival has already fired them.

[Katinfl]

10. Well that sucks.

[mainer]

12. CBP claims, without evidence, it was for child porn

The one piece of evidence CBP cited was a baby photo of the accused’s own child in the bath.

https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2025/07/articles/pornography/customs-and-border-protection-again-detain-and-deport-crew-members-this-time-from-victory-cruise-lines/