ICE Raids Detain Disney Cruise Crewmembers in San Diego After Docking

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid on a Disney cruise ship in San Diego last month, detaining at least 10 crewmembers after the vessel docked. The operation has drawn criticism from immigrant rights groups and witnesses who described the scene as shocking and unsettling.

ICE Detains Disney Magic Crewmembers After Docking

According to immigrant rights groups, federal agents "stormed onto" the Disney Magic cruise ship following a five-day trip that concluded in San Diego. The raid occurred as crewmembers disembarked, with at least 10 individuals taken into custody.

Passenger Dharmi Mehta, who was leaving the ship with her family, witnessed the head waiter being led away in restraints while still wearing his Disney uniform. Mehta told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that she had interacted with the head waiter just 45 minutes to an hour before his detention.

"He had actually been serving us probably 45 minutes to an hour before he was in restraints," Mehta said. She also noted that the crewmembers were taken without their belongings and expressed concern about their well-being, calling the experience "disheartening and unsettling."

The San Diego Harbor Police Department confirmed to a local NBC affiliate that it had no involvement in the raid.

Pattern of Raids Targeting Cruise Ship Crewmembers

Just two days after the Disney Magic raid, immigrant rights groups reported that four crewmembers from the MV Zaandam, operated by Holland America, were also detained by ICE.

Benjamin Prado, an advocate with the group Unión del Barrio, stated at the Tuesday news conference, "This is not an isolated incident. It has become a growing pattern, not only here in San Diego, but throughout this country."

Prado alleged that the detained crewmembers were denied due process and access to their national consulates, issues previously raised against the Trump administration.

ICE Confirms 23 Arrests in Operation Tidal Wave

ICE later provided further details about the raids, confirming that 23 crewmembers from multiple cruise ships were arrested at the Port of San Diego as part of Operation Tidal Wave.

According to ICE spokesperson Sandra Grisolia, 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.

"HSI San Diego arrested twenty-three crewmembers 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."