4 Filipino seafarers removed from Carnival Cruise ship in Baltimore

NEW YORK — Four Filipino crew members of the Carnival Pride cruise ship were detained and deported earlier this month while the vessel was docked in Baltimore, Maryland, sparking a protest Sunday by Filipino migrant groups who claimed the workers were denied due process.  

Migrant rights advocates held a rally Sunday outside the Carnival Cruise Line terminal in Baltimore. CONTRIBUTED

The incident took place on Sept. 7 and was first reported by Marino PH, which said the seafarers were questioned over alleged drug possession and coerced into signing confessions related to child pornography accusations. 

Migrant rights advocates, led by the Tanggol Migrante Movement (TMM), held a press conference and rally Sunday outside the Carnival Cruise Line terminal in Baltimore, demanding accountability from both Carnival Cruise and the Philippine government.  

Organizers said the four deported crew members were not afforded legal representation or proper hearings before removal. They pointed to a broader pattern, noting that US immigration authorities have deported more than 100 documented Filipino seafarers out of Norfolk, Virginia, and other US ports in the past year. 

Filipinos make up roughly 30 percent of the global seafaring workforce.  

“The due process of these crew members was not respected. They deserve fairness and assistance, especially when accusations are made without proof,” said former seafarer Philip Coronado, who joined the rally to denounce what he described as systemic abuse against maritime workers. 

Philip Coronado speaks at the protest rally in Baltimore. Photo by Ryan Harvey

Speaking in Tagalog, Coronado described wage inequality, harsh working conditions and the risk of sudden blacklisting in the cruise industry.  

Community leaders criticized both US authorities and the Philippine government for their handling of the case. 

Jom Delor of Migrante USA said Manila has consistently failed to use diplomatic channels to defend Filipino workers abroad. 

Jom Delor decries the lack of support for Filipino seafarers. Photo by Ryan Harvey

“If South Korea can negotiate on behalf of its nationals detained in Georgia, why can’t our government do the same?” Delor asked.  

Chris Pasion of Malaya Movement Baltimore accused the Philippine Embassy of neglecting its citizens, warning that without strong diplomatic measures, the community would “take to the streets” to defend seafarers. 

Chris Pasion | Photo by Ryan Harvey

Ryan Harvey of the Baltimore Rapid Response Network added that the deportations reflected broader discrimination against migrants.  

Carnival Cruise Line has not released a public statement on the incident. 

The Philippine Embassy in Washington also has yet to issue an official response.  

The protest comes ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s scheduled trip to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly later this month, with Filipino organizers hinting at further demonstrations to raise the plight of seafarers.  

TMM and allied groups are calling for a congressional investigation, a formal diplomatic protest from the Philippine government and immediate support for the deported workers and their families.  

“Seafarers sacrifice for their families and are essential to the global economy,” Coronado said. “They deserve protection – not harassment and deportation.”

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