Carnival Sunshine cruise ship | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
NEW YORK – At least 18 Filipino crew members aboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship were forcibly removed in handcuffs by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while docked at the Port of Norfolk, Virginia. Despite holding valid 10-year U.S. work visas and having no criminal charges, they were deported to the Philippines and slapped with a 10-year reentry ban.
As of now, only one crew member, Marcelo Morales, has publicly come forward in a phone interview with BusinessMirror and in a statement obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Morales is a shipboard chef from Southern Leyte. He shared his story describing being detained twice—first cleared, then later arrested without new evidence.
The other 17 deported crew members have not been named in public reports, likely due to privacy concerns, fear of retaliation, or ongoing efforts to seek legal redress. Some sources mention that among those detained were a fellow chef, four stewards, a waiter, and a sanitation worker, but their identities remain undisclosed.
CBP agents allegedly accused the workers of possessing child pornography, but no formal charges or evidence were presented. Some crew members say their phones were searched weeks prior and cleared, only to be detained later without explanation. They were denied legal representation and access to consular support during detention. Many of the deported workers are breadwinners supporting families, and the sudden removal has caused financial devastation. One seafarer described being treated “like a criminal,” denied food and water, and forced to sign visa revocation papers under duress.
“Trinato kaming kriminal. Hindi kami pinakain, walang tubig. Nag-iiyakan na kami. Gusto namin ng hustisya sa ginawa sa amin.” (“We were treated like criminals. No food, no water. We were crying. We want justice for what was done to us.”)
Filipino advocacy groups are now calling for action. The Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), Migrante International, and local chapters of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) have demanded: (a) a formal investigation by the U.S. Congress into CBP conduct; public disclosure by Carnival Corporation regarding the basis of the raid; a response from the Philippine Embassy and DFA affirming diplomatic responsibility; and, a stronger inclusion of seafarer protection in bilateral labor agreements.
In a statement, NaFFAA) President Ryan Numata emphasized the importance of due process and transparency.
“While we recognize the importance of upholding immigration laws, it is equally important to ensure that every individual is treated with dignity and in accordance with due process,” the statement reads. “We echo the call for further clarification and urge federal authorities to provide transparency on these actions.”
Meanwhile, the Filipino Workers Center Executive Director, Aquilina Soriano Versoza, stated: “We are challenging Carnival; they should be protecting these workers. They benefit from them and should provide legal counsel.” She also confirmed that PWC is building a coalition with groups like the NAACP and ACLU to provide legal defense and support for the remaining crew.
These statements have been echoed across press conferences, rallies, and media interviews. The Philippine Embassy issued a general advisory on the eve of President Marcos Jr.’s visit on July 19, 2025, warning Filipinos in the US. and onboard vessels to avoid possession or distribution of child pornography, citing “increasing incidents of arrests, detention, and deportation” in American waters. While the statement did not name the Carnival Sunshine case directly, it was timed in response to the deportation.
“Child pornography is one of the worst forms of child exploitation. Everyone is enjoined to desist from downloading, possessing, viewing, transporting, distributing and selling such material, “the embassy said.
For its part, Carnival provided a statement in response to questions about the deportations: “This is a law enforcement matter. Carnival always cooperates with law enforcement investigations. We also have active training and education programs to make sure our crew members follow internet safety guidelines.”
At the time of publication, neither the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) nor the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) had issued a formal statement. Journalists have reached out, but no replies have been posted publicly.
