Distressed Disney cruise ship passenger said she saw 'ICE agents' seize staff as soon as vessel returned to San Diego - then a very different version of events emerged

By ALEXA CIMINO, US REPORTER and RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:29, 8 May 2026 | Updated: 23:58, 8 May 2026 Twenty-three cruise ship crew members were arrested at the Port of San Diego on suspicion of involvement with child sexual abuse material, federal officials said. ICE spokesperson Sandra Grisola said Homeland Security Investigations arrested the workers from multiple cruise ships on April 28 as part of Operation Tidal Wave. 'The arrests targeted individuals suspected of involvement with Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), based on information received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,' Grisola said. The crew members were transported to Los Angeles for processing and had their visas revoked, she said. The new details come after NBC 7 reported that about 10 employees from the Disney Magic were detained by federal agents when the ship docked in San Diego. Passenger Dharmi Mehta filmed the crew members being loaded into a white van after she had disembarked from her five-day cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada. 'Earlier, while I was waiting to clear customs, I observed another set of officers with other employees in restraints, walking them off the boat and in restraints,' Mehta told KGTV. About ten employees from the Disney Magic cruise ship were detained by ICE officers when the vessel docked in San Diego One passenger, Dharmi Mehta, filmed the crew members being loaded into a white van after she had disembarked from her five-day cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada (stock image of Disney Magic) 'It wasn't until they turned around that you could read the back where it says Customs and Border, but it still said, you know, police or officer.' She recognized one of the men as the waiter who served her and her family during their trip. 'He was full in uniform, which was in a blazer, tie. Some of the other employees were still in their chef's uniforms with their name tags on it,' Mehta told KGTV. 'It was really unsettling. Just my big concern, like how is he gonna reach out to his family? Does the family even know that he's not getting back on the ship today?'  Mehta contacted Union del Barrio, a local immigration advocacy group, and notified them of what she had seen.  The group investigated the incident and claimed crew members from a Holland America ship were detained at the same port just a few days later. 'This is not an isolated incident,' said Benjamin Prado from Union del Barrio. 'In fact, it has become a growing pattern, not only here in San Diego but throughout this country.'  'It is our responsibility as a society, as working people, to really denounce these actions by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the prolonged detention of migrant workers, whether it be here in our own community as well as those that work on ships.' Mehta said she observed officers taking the staffers off the ship in restraints and then loading them in a van Mehta said she recognized one of the men as the waiter who served her and her family during their trip The Daily Mail has contacted ICE, CBP, the Port of San Diego and Disney Cruises for comment. A spokesperson for the Port of San Diego told local media it was not involved in any immigration enforcement activities.  'The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department did not have any involvement in the reported enforcement actions on April 23 or April 25 at the B Street Cruise Terminal. We did not receive any calls for service related to these incidents,' the spokesperson said. 'In accordance with California law, including SB 54, Harbor Police does not participate in immigration enforcement activities. 'The B Street Cruise Terminal is a federal port of entry, where law enforcement authority for immigration and customs matters rests with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As such, any enforcement actions taken onboard vessels or within the federal inspection area fall under CBP's jurisdiction.' Holland America did not comment on the incident but told local media that it is a law enforcement matter and that it cooperates with law enforcement investigations in jurisdictions where it operates. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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