US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently removed up to 13 international crew members from Victory Cruise Lines’ ships, Victory I and Victory II, during port calls in Detroit and potentially elsewhere. The vessels are currently operating summer voyages on the Great Lakes between Chicago and Toronto. Although CBP has not confirmed any detentions, reports indicate that some crew members were handcuffed and removed, with at least one facing charges related to child pornography.
John Waggoner, chairman of Victory Cruise Lines, stated that the company is cooperating with federal authorities to understand the situation, emphasizing the well-being of the crew and guests. The exact reasons behind the removals remain unclear, but they were not attributed to the controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, even though both ICE and CBP are part of the Department of Homeland Security.
The incident has raised concerns among international crew members across the cruise industry, who fear that immigration sweeps could disrupt operations. While crew member arrests are uncommon, there have been notable cases in the past, highlighting the potential for serious legal issues within the industry.
