Federal immigration agents arrested 14 cruise ship workers in front of shocked passengers during two separate enforcement operations at a San Diego port, marking what advocacy groups describe as an escalating pattern of worksite enforcement actions.

Disney Employees Detained in Uniform

Ten Disney Magic cruise ship employees were taken into custody on April 23 as the vessel docked in San Diego following a five-day voyage. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents boarded the ship during unloading procedures, detaining workers still wearing their uniforms. Passenger Dharmi Mehta captured video of the arrests, watching as her server from the trip was handcuffed while dressed in his blazer and tie. Other detained employees wore chef’s uniforms with name tags still attached.

Mehta expressed concern about the detained workers’ inability to contact family members. The arrested employees appeared to leave without personal belongings, raising questions about how they would reach loved ones. Witnesses reported seeing federal agents transport the crew members away in a white van. Two days later on April 25, four additional crew members faced arrest on the Holland America vessel Zandaam at the same terminal.

Immigration Groups Challenge Enforcement Pattern

Immigration rights organizations pushed back against the arrests, characterizing them as part of a troubling trend. Benjamin Prado from Union del Barrio stated the incidents represent a growing enforcement pattern extending beyond San Diego throughout the country. The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department confirmed it played no role in either operation, citing California law including Senate Bill 54, which restricts local law enforcement participation in immigration enforcement activities.

Legal Questions Surround Cruise Ship Operations

A maritime attorney speaking with local media suggested federal agents possessed specific reasons for conducting the operations, though neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Disney provided official statements. The arrests raise questions about employment verification procedures in the cruise industry and the legal authority of immigration enforcement aboard commercial vessels. California’s sanctuary state policies limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, creating jurisdictional complexities when federal agents conduct operations within state borders. The cruise terminal incidents highlight ongoing tensions between state immigration protections and federal enforcement priorities.