Passengers disembarking a recent Disney Cruise Line sailing were met with an unexpected and unsettling scene at the Port of San Diego.
According to reports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents boarded the Disney Magic as it docked and arrested several crew members while the ship was being cleared. The arrests took place in view of guests who had just completed a five-night sailing.
One passenger, Dharmi Mehta, captured video of the moment and said one of the individuals taken into custody had served her during the cruise.
“He was full in uniform, which was in a blazer, tie. Some of the other employees were still in their chef’s uniforms with their name tags on it,” Mehta said. She described the situation as “really unsettling.”
Mehta also expressed concern about what would happen next for those detained, noting that some appeared to be taken away without personal belongings.
“So that was just my big concern like how is he gonna reach out to his family? Does the family even know that he’s not getting back on the ship today?”
She said she watched as federal agents escorted the crew members off the ship and into a white van waiting nearby.
Reports indicate that 10 crew members from the Disney Magic were taken into custody during the incident. Immigration advocacy groups have also stated that additional arrests occurred in San Diego involving other cruise ships in the days that followed.
Advocates say this type of enforcement is becoming more common.
“This is not an isolated incident,” said Benjamin Prado of Union del Barrio. “In fact, it has become a growing pattern, not only here in San Diego but throughout this country.”
Local authorities clarified they were not involved in the operation.
“The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department did not have any involvement in the reported enforcement actions on April 23 or April 25 at the B Street Cruise Terminal,” a spokesperson said. “We did not receive any calls for service related to these incidents. In accordance with California law, including SB 54, Harbor Police does not participate in immigration enforcement activities.”
Legal experts note that federal authorities typically act based on specific information or warrants, though the exact reasons behind the arrests have not been publicly detailed.
As of now, neither Disney Cruise Line nor federal agencies have released additional information regarding the situation.
For guests who witnessed the events firsthand, the experience was a stark reminder that even at the end of a Disney vacation, real-world issues can surface in unexpected ways.
Sources: ABC News 10 San Diego and NBC News 7 San Diego
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