ICE Storms Disney Cruise Ship in San Diego, Arrests Crew in Front of Passengers

On April 23, as the Disney Magic docked at San Diego’s B Street Cruise Terminal after a five-day voyage, passengers expecting a relaxing end to their trip were instead confronted by a harsh reality: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were boarding the ship and arresting crew members in full view. Ten employees, including the head waiter who had served guests throughout the cruise, were taken into custody while still wearing their Disney uniforms and name tags, leaving passengers shocked and concerned.

Dharmi Mehta, a passenger on the voyage, described the scene as “really unsettling.” She worried about how the detained crew, some with families awaiting them, would manage sudden separation without access to their belongings or communication. “He left the ship with nothing,” Mehta said of the head waiter, highlighting the human cost of these raids.

The incident was not isolated. Just two days later, ICE agents returned to the same terminal to detain four more crew members from Holland America’s MV Zandaam. Immigration advocates like Benjamin Prado from Union del Barrio condemned these actions as “abductions,” pointing to a troubling pattern of aggressive immigration enforcement at major ports that disregards due process and consular rights.

Local authorities distanced themselves from the raids. The Port of San Diego’s Harbor Police confirmed they had no role, citing California’s SB 54 law that bars local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement. Instead, jurisdiction falls to federal agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which did not respond to requests for comment. Cruise lines also remained silent on the matter.

Legal experts noted that Disney cruise ships, including the Magic, are Bahamian-flagged vessels. This means U.S. employment laws do not apply to their international crew, a standard industry practice that complicates protections for workers caught in immigration sweeps.

The timing of these arrests casts a shadow over Disney Cruise Line’s recent announcement to double the number of ships stopping in San Diego, a move initially celebrated by local tourism officials. The raids expose the precarious position of cruise workers and raise concerns about how such aggressive enforcement might affect Disney’s expansion and reputation in the region.

For passengers like Mehta, the vacation itself was enjoyable but the ending was jarring. What was supposed to be a magical experience ended with a stark reminder of the harsh realities facing immigrant workers and the heavy hand of federal immigration enforcement right on American shores.