A routine disembarkation turned into a jarring scene at the San Diego waterfront. Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently took approximately ten crew members from Disney Cruise Line into custody. The enforcement took place at the B Street Cruise Terminal as families were leaving their ship. Passengers watched in shock as ICE officers led staffers away in handcuffs. Many of these workers were still wearing their official uniforms.
One passenger, Dharmi Mehta, witnessed the ICE enforcement action firsthand. She recognized her family’s head waiter among those being detained. He was still wearing his formal blazer and tie from his shift. Mehta noted that he appeared to have no personal belongings with him. The sight of a familiar face in handcuffs left many passengers deeply unsettled.
Staffers Handcuffed In Uniform
The ICE detention involved workers from various departments on the ship. Some were seen in chef’s uniforms with their name tags still attached. Reports indicate that about ten people were loaded into white vans by the agents. These crew members had no apparent way to contact their families. This has raised concerns about their immediate well-being and legal rights. You can see the arrest in the video below:
ICE was waiting at the port in San Diego when a Disney cruise ship docked and immediately arrested a handful of the staff who are illegals pic.twitter.com/5NQMC3C7Xg
— ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴏᴘʜᴇʀ ᴀʀɴᴇʟʟ (@MrChrisArnell) May 6, 2026
The jurisdictional split at the port played a major role in the event. The Port of San Diego Harbor Police did not participate in the action. California’s SB 54 laws prohibit local police from assisting in immigration enforcement. However, the cruise terminal is a federal port of entry. This gives ICE agents and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) full authority to act.
A Pattern Of Cruise Ship Arrests
This does not appear to be an isolated incident at the port. ICE agents also detained four crew members from Holland America’s Zaandam recently. Local advocacy groups like Unión del Barrio held a news conference on May 5. They are calling for transparency and due process for the workers. They claim the crew members are being denied access to consular services.
Disney Cruise Line has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the ICE reports. The timing of the incident is particularly notable for the city. Disney and the Port just announced a long-term agreement. They plan to double the number of Disney ships docking in San Diego through 2031. It remains to be seen if these visible enforcement actions will impact future cruise operations.
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