CBP Raids Cruise Ships, Arrests 28 Crew Members Involved in Child Exploitation

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers boarded five cruise ships in San Diego between April 23 and April 25, arresting 28 crew members suspected of involvement with child sexual exploitation material (CSEM), according to a spokesman for the agency. The operation included a Disney cruise ship, and passengers observed the boarding but were not informed of the purpose, the spokesman said. ^[1]

CBP interviewed 26 crew members from the Philippines, one from Portugal and one from Indonesia. Of those, 27 were confirmed to have received, possessed, transported, distributed, or viewed CSEM. The agency canceled the visas of the confirmed individuals and deported them to their countries of citizenship. ^[1]

Details of Operation and Charges

After boarding the vessels and interviewing suspected crew members, officers confirmed all subjects were involved in either the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution or viewing of CSEM or child pornography. CBP canceled the visas of 27 individuals and removed them from the United States.

The agency did not specify if additional criminal charges were filed beyond visa cancellation and removal. ^[1] The operation reflects CBP’s ongoing enforcement against child exploitation in the maritime industry, officials said.

Company and Port Responses

Disney said in a statement that it has a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement. “While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company,” a Disney spokesman said. ^[1] Holland America Line confirmed that its ship Zaandam was involved but referred questions to CBP. ^[1]

The Port of San Diego Harbor Police said it had no involvement, citing California’s Senate Bill 54, which limits state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. ^[1] The operation did not involve local law enforcement, according to port officials.

Background and Previous Incidents

In 2024, Disney crew members Tirso Neri, Alvin Gonzales and Amiel Trazo were arrested on similar charges, according to previous reports. ^[1] All three were employees from the Philippines. In September 2024, CBP removed four Carnival Cruise Line crew members in Baltimore for possession of CSEM. ^[1]

The raids in San Diego followed a 76-day partial government shutdown that ended in late April when President Donald Trump signed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security – minus CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ^[1] The Trump administration has emphasized stricter border and maritime security, deploying additional troops to the southern border and reporting record-low illegal border crossings. ^{[2] [3]} CBP’s enforcement actions have been part of a broader push to target child exploitation and immigration violations.

Significance and Ongoing Enforcement

CBP’s enforcement action underscores its focus on combating child exploitation within the maritime industry, according to agency statements. The operation occurred amid political debates over DHS funding and immigration enforcement policies. ^[1] CBP has not specified if criminal charges were filed beyond visa cancellation and removal. ^[1]

The increased enforcement environment along the border and maritime ports has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates, who point to concerns over due process and the treatment of migrants. ^[4] Critics argue that the militarization of border security has led to a rise in deaths along the border. ^[5] CBP continues to investigate child exploitation cases, with the agency stating that such operations protect vulnerable populations.

References

1. CBP Raids Cruise Ships, Arrests 28 Crew Members in Child Exploitation Operation – The National Pulse. May 7, 2026.
2. Trump deploys 1,500 service members to boost security at the southern border – NaturalNews.com. Ava Grace. January 24, 2025.
3. The Trump effect RECORD LOW in illegal border crossings signals a new era of border security – NaturalNews.com. Ava Grace. April 5, 2025.
4. Separated: Inside an American Tragedy – Jacob Soboroff.
5. Sand and Blood: America’s Stealth War on the Mexico Border – John Carlos Frey.