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ICE Reportedly Detains Disney Cruise Line Crew Members in San Diego During Disney Magic Visit
A troubling report out of San Diego is drawing attention to immigration enforcement actions involving crew members aboard Disney Magic during a recent Disney Cruise Line sailing.
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According to NBC San Diego and eyewitness accounts shared during a local news conference, several crew members from the Disney Magic were reportedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the ship arrived at the B Street Cruise Terminal in San Diego on April 23.
Passenger Dharmi Mehta said she witnessed crew members being escorted into a white van in restraints after disembarking from a five-day sailing aboard the ship. One of the individuals reportedly detained was the head waiter who had served Mehta’s family during the cruise.
Mehta told reporters the crew members were still wearing their Disney Cruise Line uniforms and did not appear to have any personal belongings with them at the time.
“It was really unsettling,” Mehta said during the press conference, expressing concern about whether the crew members had any ability to contact their families following the detentions.
The reported ICE action took place the same day Disney Cruise Line and the Port of San Diego announced an extension of their partnership agreement through 2031. The agreement allows Disney Cruise Line to continue seasonal sailings from San Diego for years to come.
Representatives from migrant advocacy organizations joined the press conference, alleging similar detentions involving crew members from other cruise lines in recent weeks. Advocacy groups called for greater transparency from federal agencies and urged cruise operators to provide additional protections and support for international employees working aboard ships docking in the United States.
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The Port of San Diego later released a statement clarifying that the Port’s Harbor Police Department was not involved in the reported enforcement actions. Officials noted that the B Street Cruise Terminal operates as a federal port of entry, placing immigration enforcement authority under the jurisdiction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
At the time of publication, neither Disney Cruise Line nor CBP had publicly commented on the specific circumstances surrounding the reported detentions.
Disney Cruise Line has continued rapidly expanding in recent years, with additional ships planned as part of the company’s growing global fleet strategy. The Disney Magic currently sails a variety of itineraries, including seasonal cruises from San Diego to destinations along the Mexican Riviera.
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