The people and organizations signed on to this letter are in support of the valid visa-holding seafarers who have been unjustly deported from cruise ships at several ports of entry throughout the United States: Virginia, Florida, Texas, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, South Carolina - and most recently, California.  

As of April 28 2026, a total of 233 Filipino crew members of several cruise lines docking at these ports have reported the same injustice: these workers, falsely accused of possessing child pornography without a shred of evidence, have been forcibly removed in handcuffs by Customs and Border Protection officers and sent back to the Philippines without any legal representation or counsel.  The most recent incidence of these deportations happened aboard eight different ships while docked at the Port of San Diego, including the Disney Magic, Holland America, and Princess Ruby.

These valid, US visa-holding crewmen have not been charged nor found guilty of any crime, yet are still banned from working in the United States.  

These crew members are dedicated parents and spouses with exemplary backgrounds, having passed rigorous background checks to obtain their work visas. Their abrupt removal, accompanied by the cancellation of their visas and a shocking 10-year ban from re-entry, has inflicted deep trauma and humiliation, plunging their families into dire financial straits.

"[CBP] arrested us without any probable cause...we were denied of our rights to speak in our defense or get a lawyer.  They handcuffed us in front of our guests and teammates.  Now I am stressed and my depression is kicking in.  I am worried for the safety of my wife and daughter.  Bills are piling up, and the mortgage is knocking, and banks are calling.  I don't know how and where to start again without money." 
- TJ, Former Crewman (removed from Princess Ruby on 04/23/26)

As more ships are set to dock in US ports this summer, remaining crew members are left in fear of being the next victims of these aggressive actions. Community members are outraged by this blatant mistreatment of Filipino and other workers. We stand with the affected workers that insist on having their stories heard, appropriate corrective action taken regarding their immigration status, and an immediate halt to these baseless deportations.

We continue to support the seafarers in their demands:

1) CBP and DHS should immediately stop conducting these unjust deportations,

2) The seafarers and their families should receive assistance to support their families since these actions have created great financial harm,

3) The seafarers' visas to be reinstated,

4) The seafarers to be rehired by their cruise liner companies for routes that do not go to the US ports.