Disney Cruise Ship Crew Detained by Authorities in San Diego

In a major crackdown at the Port of San Diego, federal authorities have apprehended 23 crew members from various cruise ships on allegations related to child sexual abuse material.

According to Sandra Grisola, a spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), these arrests were executed by Homeland Security Investigations on April 28 as a key part of an initiative called Operation Tidal Wave.

“The operation specifically targeted crew members suspected of being connected to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM),” Grisola explained, adding that the investigation was launched following tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The detained individuals have since been transported to Los Angeles for further processing, and their visas have been revoked, Grisola noted.

This revelation follows an earlier report by NBC 7, which highlighted that approximately 10 employees from the Disney Magic were taken into custody by federal agents as the ship arrived in San Diego.

Passenger Dharmi Mehta filmed the crew members being loaded into a white van after she had disembarked from her five-day cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada.

‘Earlier, while I was waiting to clear customs, I observed another set of officers with other employees in restraints, walking them off the boat and in restraints,’ Mehta told KGTV.

About ten employees from the Disney Magic cruise ship were detained by ICE officers when the vessel docked in San Diego

One passenger, Dharmi Mehta, filmed the crew members being loaded into a white van after she had disembarked from her five-day cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada (stock image of Disney Magic)

‘It wasn’t until they turned around that you could read the back where it says Customs and Border, but it still said, you know, police or officer.’

She recognized one of the men as the waiter who served her and her family during their trip.

‘He was full in uniform, which was in a blazer, tie. Some of the other employees were still in their chef’s uniforms with their name tags on it,’ Mehta told KGTV.

‘It was really unsettling. Just my big concern, like how is he gonna reach out to his family? Does the family even know that he’s not getting back on the ship today?’ 

Mehta contacted Union del Barrio, a local immigration advocacy group, and notified them of what she had seen. 

The group investigated the incident and claimed crew members from a Holland America ship were detained at the same port just a few days later.

‘This is not an isolated incident,’ said Benjamin Prado from Union del Barrio. ‘In fact, it has become a growing pattern, not only here in San Diego but throughout this country.’ 

‘It is our responsibility as a society, as working people, to really denounce these actions by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the prolonged detention of migrant workers, whether it be here in our own community as well as those that work on ships.’

Mehta said she observed officers taking the staffers off the ship in restraints and then loading them in a van

Mehta said she recognized one of the men as the waiter who served her and her family during their trip

The Daily Mail has contacted ICE, CBP, the Port of San Diego and Disney Cruises for comment.

A spokesperson for the Port of San Diego told local media it was not involved in any immigration enforcement activities. 

‘The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department did not have any involvement in the reported enforcement actions on April 23 or April 25 at the B Street Cruise Terminal. We did not receive any calls for service related to these incidents,’ the spokesperson said.

‘In accordance with California law, including SB 54, Harbor Police does not participate in immigration enforcement activities.

‘The B Street Cruise Terminal is a federal port of entry, where law enforcement authority for immigration and customs matters rests with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As such, any enforcement actions taken onboard vessels or within the federal inspection area fall under CBP’s jurisdiction.’

Holland America did not comment on the incident but told local media that it is a law enforcement matter and that it cooperates with law enforcement investigations in jurisdictions where it operates.