RismadarVoice Reporters
May 12, 2026
United States Customs and Border Protection has confirmed the deportation of 27 cruise ship workers following an investigation into alleged involvement in child pornography-related activities.
The agency disclosed on Monday that the operation was carried out between April 23 and 27, 2026, during which officers boarded eight cruise ships as part of an ongoing child sexual exploitation material investigation.
According to CBP, 27 out of 28 crew members questioned during the operation were found to have allegedly engaged in the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of child sexual exploitation material.
The agency said the workers had their visas revoked and were subsequently deported to their respective home countries.
CBP identified the affected workers as 26 Filipinos, one Portuguese national, and one Indonesian citizen, but declined to release their identities.
The agency did not clarify whether any of the individuals would face criminal prosecution in the United States.
Among the cruise operators affected was Disney Cruise Line. In a statement, the company said it fully cooperated with investigators and reaffirmed its “zero-tolerance policy” toward child exploitation offences.
Disney stated that although most of the individuals involved were not employed by the company, any affected staff linked to its operations had been dismissed.
Holland America also confirmed that some of its crew members were implicated in the investigation, describing the allegations as “deeply disturbing.”
The company said the affected workers had been terminated and that it was cooperating with authorities.
Reports indicated that at least one of the enforcement operations took place aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship while docked at B-Street Pier in San Diego.
The Port of San Diego’s Harbour Police said it did not participate in the operation, explaining that immigration enforcement at the terminal falls under federal jurisdiction.
CBP has yet to disclose what triggered the investigation or whether additional arrests or prosecutions may follow.
