18 Carnival Crew Members Were Deported – Advocates Say It Was Unfair

At least 18 Filipino crew members working aboard Carnival Sunshine were detained and deported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection while the ship was docked in Norfolk, Virginia. All of them held valid 10-year C-1/D visas, which are commonly issued to seafarers working on international ships. Despite having no criminal charges filed against them, their visas were revoked, and they have now been banned from re-entering the United States for a decade.

The deportations, which took place between April and July, 2025, have triggered outrage among advocacy groups, with many accusing authorities of bypassing due process and wrongfully targeting lower-ranking cruise ship employees. A protest held on July 20 near the port drew attention to what demonstrators called a “disturbing pattern” of unjust immigration enforcement.

The Deportation Raids Explained

The cruise ship employees were accused of possessing explicit digital material, but advocacy groups are firm in that there was insufficient evidence to prove this and that the workers were not allowed a lawyer or a trial before being sent back to the Philippines.

The first known raids began in April, 2025, with CBP officers boarding Carnival Sunshine during routine port calls in Norfolk. According to advocacy groups, crew members were removed in handcuffs without warning, often during early morning hours, and escorted off the ship. The most recent incident reportedly occurred just hours before a planned protest on July 20.

Reports suggest that at least 21 workers have now been detained in total, most of them Filipino nationals. While only 18 have been officially deported so far, crew members remaining onboard are said to be living in constant fear that they could be next. Some sources claim CBP agents demanded access to crew members’ phones, conducted searches without clear explanation, and offered no legal counsel or formal evidence during the process.

Voices of Protest

The detentions sparked swift backlash from immigrant rights groups and Filipino advocacy organisations. Around 50 protestors gathered outside the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk on July 20, holding signs and chanting phrases like “Due process is the law.” Their message was clear: the deported crew members were denied basic rights and targeted unfairly.

Aquilina Soriano Versoza, Executive Director of the Pilipino Workers Center, said all 21 affected crew members were “falsely accused” and labelled the deportations as part of a broader pattern of targeting lower-ranking migrant workers. “There were no formal charges at all. Only accusations with no evidence,” she stated during the rally. The group is calling on U.S. authorities, Carnival Cruise Line, and the Philippine Embassy to act urgently in defence of the seafarers’ rights.

Carnival’s Response

Carnival Cruise Line has distanced itself from the deportations, framing the situation as solely a law enforcement matter. In a statement, the company said, “Carnival always cooperates with law enforcement investigations. We also have active training and education programs to make sure our crew members follow internet safety guidelines.”

The cruise line did not confirm how many employees had been removed or whether it had reviewed the circumstances surrounding their detention. Several of the deported crew members claim their contracts with Carnival were terminated before they even made it back to the Philippines. Despite growing pressure from advocacy groups, Carnival has yet to offer direct support or public defence of the workers involved.

Emotional and Financial Fallout

For the deported crew members and their families, the consequences have been devastating. Many of those removed were the sole breadwinners in their households, having passed rigorous background checks to secure their seafaring roles. Their abrupt termination and the 10-year re-entry ban have not only left them unemployed but also banned them from future opportunities in the U.S. cruise industry.

Advocacy groups describe the situation as a humanitarian crisis. “Their sudden removal, combined with the revocation of their visas and a decade-long re-entry ban, has brought not only humiliation but also financial devastation to their families,” stated a joint release from the Pilipino Workers Center and NaFFAA. Those who remain onboard reportedly live in fear, unsure if they’ll be next.

Wider Implications for the Cruise Industry

The fallout from these deportations reaches far beyond the affected individuals. The sudden removal of trained staff creates operational challenges, particularly on ships like Carnival Sunshine, which relies on a crew of over 1,000 people to run smoothly. Replacing staff on short notice is not only difficult but can also disrupt guest service and morale onboard.

Beyond logistics, the incident has shaken trust among international seafarers across the industry. Reports of similar deportations from other ships, including Victory I and Victory II, where additional international crew were removed in July, suggest a growing pattern of scrutiny on cruise workers entering U.S. ports. With little transparency and no formal charges, the message is chilling: even valid visa holders may not be safe.

What Happens Next?

At this stage, it’s unclear whether any legal appeals or investigations will be launched on behalf of the deported crew members. CBP has not issued a detailed public statement, and Carnival has remained largely silent beyond its initial cooperation notice. Advocacy groups are urging the Philippine Embassy to step in and demand accountability, but no official intervention has been confirmed.

Calls for transparency are growing louder. Protestors want to see evidence, due process, and an end to what they describe as unjust immigration enforcement practices. Until then, many crew members continue to live and work under a cloud of anxiety, uncertain if their next shift will end in deportation.

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