Deportations of Filipino Crew Members

Since October 2023, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has removed Filipino crew members from cruise ships at ports including Charleston, San Diego, Baltimore and Port Canaveral, alleging child sexual abuse material. Men—marine-engineer Michael James Garcia, 53-year-old seafarer “F,” and 27-year-old housekeeper “C”—were never charged, had visas revoked, received a ten-year entry ban, and were flown to Manila within 24 hours.

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Filipinos comprise over a quarter of seafarer workforce (International Maritime Organization). The Los Angeles-based Pilipino Workers Center has logged at least 212 deportations of Filipino mariners since 2025. Each case follows same pattern: CBP boards vessel, seizes phones, reviews communications, then cancels visa—often marking passports with “CWOP” (cancelled without prejudice). No criminal charges have been filed.

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Garcia, 39, said agents reviewed call log, texts and Facebook messages before alleging child-pornography links; he denied wrongdoing and got no due-process. F was told he accessed a site in 2017, which he disputes. C said his phone was inspected and no evidence shown before visa revocation. Vipinosa struggles to find work, receiving $813 assistance.

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CBP said removals are “part of our efforts to combat the exploitation of children and uphold the law,” stressing a focus on “criminal aliens.” The Philippine Embassy in Washington called denials “administrative decisions” made with “wide latitude of discretion,” noting deported workers receive assistance through Department of Migrant Workers and rejecting claims of targeted enforcement.

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Director Aquilina Soriano Versoza of the Pilipino Workers Center said the pattern is “another way that they are actually raising the numbers of deportations.” Migrante USA deputy secretary general Jom Dolor accused Philippine Embassy of “willfully denying the facts… and accepting US deportation quotas wholesale.” Advocacy groups add revocations are “clearly unjust” because sailors cannot clear their names.

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CBP asserts the men are “child predators,” yet no charges or evidence have been presented. Filipino groups cite over 200 deportations, while the embassy disputes the scale. Neither CBP nor the Justice Department has explained why visas were cancelled without prosecution, leaving a factual gap.

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• “They (don't) give you due process just to defend yourself,” — Michael James Garcia, marine engineer

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• “these actions are part of our broader efforts to combat the exploitation of children and uphold the law.” — CBP spokesperson

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• “willfully denying the facts, and abandoning its responsibility to protect its Nationals, and it's just accepting US deportation quotas wholesale.” — Jom Dolor, Migrante USA deputy secretary general

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• “They told me I was involved in some child pornography thing, but I don't have any of that in my phone,” — C, former cruise-ship housekeeper

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The episode strains U.S.–Philippines labor ties, raises due-process concerns for foreign crew, and fuels calls for congressional oversight of CBP’s maritime immigration enforcement. Advocacy groups plan to document additional cases and seek legislative review of visa-revocation authority.

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