SAN DIEGO — A dramatic federal operation aboard a Disney cruise ship docked in San Diego last month has sparked controversy, with uniformed crew members reportedly zip-tied in front of passengers — an incident that has now drawn concern from the Philippine Consulate and immigrant rights advocates.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents conducted raids on multiple cruise ships at the Port of San Diego between April 23 and April 27. According to CBP, the operations targeted eight vessels and resulted in 28 interviews and 27 detentions. The individuals — crew members from the Philippines, Portugal, and Indonesia — were detained on suspicion of handling or viewing child pornography. Their visas were canceled, and they were sent back to their home countries.
A Disney spokesperson confirmed that some of the detained workers were Disney Cruise Line employees, who have since been terminated by the company.
The scene aboard the Disney ship, however, has fueled sharp criticism. Witnesses described seeing crew members handcuffed with zip ties in full view of passengers. Immigrant rights group Unión del Barrio held a news conference Tuesday, denouncing the raids as “abductions” carried out without proper due process.
“We are demanding answers from federal agents,” said group leaders, who are pressing CBP and ICE for a full explanation of the operation’s motives and procedures.
CBP pushed back against the criticism, stating the raids were part of a broader enforcement action and not limited to the Disney vessel. The agency emphasized that the detentions were based on specific suspicions related to child pornography.
The Philippine Consulate General has also expressed concern over the treatment and deportation of Filipino workers involved in the incident.
Benjamin Prado of Unión del Barrio said the group is seeking official statements from ICE and CBP before commenting further, noting they want to ensure the detained workers’ rights were protected.
The episode has highlighted growing tensions around immigration enforcement in the cruise industry, where many vessels rely heavily on international crew members. While federal authorities defend the operation as necessary to combat serious crimes, critics argue the public nature of the arrests and lack of immediate transparency have raised serious questions about fairness and due process.
The full details of the investigation remain under scrutiny as both sides await more information.
