4 more Filipino cruise ship workers deported in US immigration raid

WASHINGTON – Four more Filipino seafarers were removed from the Carnival Sunshine cruise line and deported when it docked in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a worker advocacy group.

In a memo sent to supporters on Sunday, Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California (PWC) Executive Director Aquilina Soriano Versoza said they were “worried that again there will be no due process and the revocation of their visas with no evidence, charges or convictions and that they will be quickly deported.”

On Monday, Versoza said the four workers have already been deported, bringing the total number of Filipinos removed from Carnival Sunshine to 28.

Versoza said more than 100 Filipino workers have been removed from various cruise ships this year.

The latest CBP raid took place as the Philippine Senate started to investigate the reported unjust deportation of Filipino cruise ship workers.

On June 28, CBP officers raided Carnival Sunshine while it was docked at the port of Norfolk, Virginia. During the raid, several Filipino workers – all with valid 10-year visas – were removed from the ship, deported and banned from re-entry to the United States for 10 years.

An investigation conducted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) revealed that the deported seafarers, who were accused of consuming child pornography, were not given due process.

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The Filipino workers were not informed of their right to consular representation as stated in Article 36 of the Vienna Convention, Olalia said as he presented the agency’s findings during the Senate committee on migrant workers’ inquiry into the reported unjust deportations.

The Consulate of the Philippines was not even informed that the seafarers were detained, interviewed and deported, Olalia added.

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On Sunday, PWC reached out to Congressman Bobby Scott, Senator Tim Kaine, the Philippine Embassy and Carnival Cruise for assistance to the affected workers, including a restaurant steward, laundry attendant, deck department staff and a 3^rd officer, according to Versoza.

“We have had some success that there hadn’t been any more deportations from the Carnival Sunshine until now, and the Philippines held a Senate hearing on these deportations and are now providing some financial assistance to those already deported,” said Versoza, who was on her way to the Philippines to seek assistance for the deported Filipinos.

“But of course that is not enough. We must get the seafarers’ visas reinstated and stop these deportations now.”

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