Latest news with #CarnivalSunshine
Travel Weekly
21-07-2025
- Travel Weekly
Carnival Sunshine crew members said to have been detained in Virginia
Carnival Cruise Line crew members have been detained on the Carnival Sunshine while the ship was docked in Norfolk, Va., according to the advocacy group Pilipino Workers Center and local media reports. The detentions have been ongoing since April, with the most recent happening the morning of July 20, the group's executive director, Aquilina Soriano Versoza, told The Virginian-Pilot. There have been 21 detentions thus far, and those detained have been accused of child pornography, she said. "It's just a justification for deporting hardworking migrants," she said, according to the newspaper report. In a statement, Carnival Cruise Line said, "This is a law enforcement matter that has been going on for several years across the cruise industry. 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 Pilipino Workers Center held a rally in Norfolk on July 20. CBS footage shows handmade signs, one reading "Shame on Carnival for not protecting crew." According to The Virginian-Pilot report, Soriano Versoza asserts that the detained workers have not been charged with any crimes and that they all have work visas. Crew members have also been removed from at last five cruise ships on the Great Lakes, according to cruise lines, crew members and passengers. The ships affected there include the Viking Octantis, Victory Cruise Lines' two vessels and a Pearl Seas Cruises ship, the Pearl Mist.
Filipino Times
21-07-2025
- Filipino Times
18 Filipino cruise ship workers deported, banned from U.S. despite valid visas
At least 18 Filipino workers aboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship were reportedly handcuffed, removed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), deported to the Philippines, and banned from entering the United States for 10 years, according to Filipino American advocacy groups. The workers, who were not charged with any crime, held valid 10-year U.S. visas. Filipino community leaders, including the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), called the incident 'an alarming escalation of unjust immigration practices.' 'These crew members are devoted parents and spouses who passed strict background checks. Their sudden removal and visa cancellation have left their families in financial hardship,' the joint statement read. CBP confirmed the operation but gave no details. USA Today reported that the workers were previously cleared to work legally in the U.S. With the Carnival Sunshine set to dock again in Norfolk this Sunday, other Filipino crew members remain fearful of similar treatment. The PWC and NaFFAA said this incident reflects a broader trend where foreign cruise ship workers are deported despite holding valid documents. The groups urged accountability from CBP, Carnival Corporation, and the Philippine Embassy, calling for the protection of the rights of seafarers affected by these actions.
GMA Network
21-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH Embassy warns vs child porn amid arrest of 18 Pinoy seafarers in US
The Philippine Embassy in Washington has issued an advisory against possession and distribution of child pornography in the US amid "increasing incidents onboard vessels in American waters." 'In view of increasing incidents of arrests, detention and deportation of individuals due to child pornography-related offenses, the Philippine embassy reminds the members of the Filipino community and overseas Filipino workers in the United States and onboard vessels in US territorial waters, that child pornography is one of the worst forms of child exploitation and to consume it perpetuates such exploitation,' the embassy said on July 19. The embassy did not mention a specific incident but the statement was made after US online news Wavy said the Filipino workers of Carnival Sunshine cruise line, all bearing valid 10-year C-1/D visas, were 'forcibly removed in handcuffs' by Customs and Border Patrol officers at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia. Officers reportedly told the workers they were accused of possessing child pornography, 'In this regard, everyone is enjoined to desist from downloading, possessing, viewing, transporting, distributing and selling child pornography,' said the embassy advisory. GMA News Online has reached out to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers for comment, but they have yet to reply as of posting time. Arrests Since the Biden administration, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Customs and Border Protection have conducted a series of arrests of cruise ship employees due to alleged child pornography. Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center, and other members of the group protested the arrest outside the cruise ship, saying the Filipinos were abruptly removed despite lack of evidence and due legal process. The embassy, on the other hand, said it 'respects the right of individuals to seek redress of grievances or take legal action if they feel they have been wrongly accused of legal infractions.' 'Please contact the Philippine embassy or the nearest Philippine consulate general and migrant workers office for consular and welfare assistance,' it said. The Philippines is one of the world's largest providers of shipping manpower in the world. A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20 percent of the world's 1.2 million sailors are manning oil tankers, cargo ships, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Arab Times
20-07-2025
- Arab Times
Filipino workers pulled from cruise ship in US immigration raid
NORFOLK, Va, July 20: At least 18 Filipino crew members were forcibly removed in handcuffs from the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship at the Port of Norfolk, Virginia, and deported to the Philippines, according to Filipino American advocacy groups. The individuals have also reportedly been barred from re-entering the United States for 10 years. In a joint statement, the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) condemned the removals, describing them as part of an 'alarming escalation of unjust immigration practices.' The crew members held valid 10-year U.S. work visas and had not been charged with any crimes, the groups emphasized. 'These crew members are hardworking parents and spouses with clean records, having passed rigorous background checks to obtain their visas,' the statement read. '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.' The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed an active operation but did not release specific details, according to USA Today. Additional cruise lines, including Viking and Pearl Seas Cruises, have reportedly also been affected by similar actions. The advocacy groups warned that remaining crew aboard the Carnival Sunshine now fear they could be next, as the ship is scheduled to return to Norfolk this Sunday. 'This incident reflects a broader national trend of workplace immigration raids targeting crew members with valid documents and no criminal background,' the groups said. 'We are deeply concerned about the erosion of due process and the impact on these individuals and their families.'
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Carnival Sunshine's departure from Norfolk delayed due to weather
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Carnival Sunshine will have a delayed departure from Norfolk due to the weather, according to the cruise line. 'We are monitoring a cold front which is impacting the Norfolk area,' said Caro Ferrer, senior manager of communications for Carnival Cruise Line. 'The storm is now producing strong winds and rain that requires us to delay our departure.' The departure has been rescheduled for 7 a.m. Monday. The ship, which returned on Sunday from an eight-day cruise to the Eastern Carribean, was set to depart on a six-day Bahamas itinerary on Sunday afternoon. The cruise line previously had a postponement due to weather on Feb. 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
