Story perspectives

ICE keeps Hernandez-Umana detained after speedboat capsizing

8/21/2026

Summary

Boat Captain Arrested

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested boat captain Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana on illegal entry charges.
The 21-foot speedboat capsized near the Statue of Liberty on August 8, killing Sara Sanchez and her infant.
Father Andres Garcia survived while twelve passengers were rescued with minor injuries.
He faces two federal misconduct counts, each up to ten years, posted a $50,000 bond and remains in ICE detention.

Summary

ICE Detains Captain

ICE detained the operator after confirming illegal entry, overriding his bond release.
New York officials charged him with 13 counts of reckless endangerment for overloading the vessel.
He was accused of running unlicensed boat tours in New York Harbor.
The Department of Homeland Security announced his continued ICE custody pending trial.
Authorities warned that unregulated tourist boat operations increase safety risks after a capsizing two weeks earlier.

History

Historical Context

In August 1994, after Fidel Castro opened the border, roughly 35,000 Cubans fled on makeshift rafts and U.S. Coast Guard interdictions placed about 40,000 at sea, prompting President Bill Clinton’s migration agreement and the “wet-foot/dry-foot” policy. That framework underlies today’s ICE arrest of boat-tour captain Manuel Ernesto Hernández-Umana for illegal entry and reckless endangerment.

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Boat Captain Arrested

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested boat captain Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana on illegal entry charges.
The 21-foot speedboat capsized near the Statue of Liberty on August 8, killing Sara Sanchez and her infant.
Father Andres Garcia survived while twelve passengers were rescued with minor injuries.
He faces two federal misconduct counts, each up to ten years, posted a $50,000 bond and remains in ICE detention.

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