In a shocking revelation, it is reported that twenty-one employees of various cruise ships have been held in detention whilst their ships were docked in Norfolk. This action was carried out by federal authorities on the grounds of accusations related to possession of explicit content featuring minors. The arrests, which took place over several months, were made while the vessels were docked and were conducted by Customs and Border Protection officials, accompanied by Carnival Cruise Line security personnel.
The events have led to a protest organized by immigrant advocacy groups. These advocates assert that the captives were unjustly accused. They argue that the accused, consisting of cruise ship crew members, were neither presented with due process nor proper legal hearings. The protest witnessed a gathering of approximately 50 individuals expressing their anguish over the accused’s fate at Town Point Park.
One of the key voices in the protest was Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers’ Center. Versoza, stoutly stating the innocence of the detained individuals, claimed that they all were victims of baseless allegations. Quite pointedly, she suggested that these arrests were primarily designed to help the authorities meet their deportation targets, rather than being based on authentic evidence.
Reacting to the developments, Carnival Cruise Line maintained that it had only cooperated with the federal government’s law enforcement agencies. This involvement was brought into light as cruise ship workers began to be detained and deported. The effect of these crackdowns remains unclear as the authorities have not disclosed whether any of the detained crew members have been charged with any crimes.
In a series of detentions, lower-ranking employees such as cooks, casino workers, and custodial staff, were detained on suspicion of wrongdoings, based purely on accusations. Versoza explained that these employees were abruptly removed from their ships and confined in CBP offices, airport facilities, or nearby hotel rooms without any conclusive proof or formal charges. She further iterated her stance as being a defense for the accused, by stating that these presumptions lack any substantial evidence.
Versoza observed the detained members were not connected with any criminal activity in the past. Despite holding approved work visas, they were nonetheless taken into custody. In response to the sudden arrests, the Pilipino Workers’ Center, a renowned West Coast-based advocacy group, hastened to form a demonstration at the site upon being contacted by the distressed crew members aboard the Carnival Sunshine.
The advocacy leader expressed grave concerns over the misunderstanding or unawareness about their legal rights experienced by these workers, which leaves them vulnerable during such unexpected enforcement actions. The target of these oppressive acts, as per Versoza, were often people lacking any ties with the local Hampton Roads region.
She claimed that these cases strikingly differed from the previous instances of similar accusations against cruise ship employees. When confronted by these charges, and when the accused crew members sought evidence of such wrongdoings, the authorities reportedly had no substantial proof they could present.
In Versoza’s view, these actions are mere pretexts for forcing the deportation of industrious immigrants. While the case unfolds, the position of Carnival Cruise Line continues to be cooperative with ongoing law enforcement investigations. They assert adherence to their training and education programs, which emphasizes its crew members’ adherence to internet safety standards.
Representatives from Nauticus and the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, the terminal where cruise ships dock at Norfolk, expressed their limited awareness of the ongoing issue. According to them, the matters of detentions and deportations are strictly in the realm of CBP. However, CBP officials have until now remained silent and failed to respond to requests for comments and explanations regarding the series of somewhat mysterious events.
Gaylene Kanoyton, the president of Hampton Roads NAACP, participated in the protest, advocating for the rights and dignity of the detained cruise ship workers. She stated that those detained, many of whom are dedicated parents and spouses, had passed exhaustive background checks to acquire their work permits. Far from being criminals, they are hardworking individuals being victimized by aggressive enforcement tactics against immigrants in Virginia.
This news of the detainments has had a significant impact on the Filipino community, causing distress among its members. One of the community activists, Julie Jamora, expressed her concern over what these developments represent for other immigrants. She related the ongoing situation to the Tagalog expression ‘tago ng tago’, which translates to ‘always hiding’, implying the fear and insecurity these detentions have stirred among immigrants.
Jamora, herself the offspring of Filipino immigrants, asserted that for many Filipinos, these situations are a question of survival itself. She emphasized the urgency of actions and solidarity in dealing with such dire situations, warning that if left unaddressed, the wider immigrant population might find itself struggling for its basic rights in the future.
The post Cruise Ship Workers Detained in Norfolk Amid Controversy appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
