Philippine consulate confirms Filipino seafarers among deported in San Diego

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles has confirmed Filipino seafarers were among those recently detained and deported by United States border officers in San Diego. 

"The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles views with concern that a number of Filipino seafarers working as crew members were among those detained by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authorities in San Diego and were confirmed to have been returned to the Philippines," the consulate said in a May 5 statement.

The consulate did not say how many Filipinos were detained, name the cruise lines involved, or mention the reason given by US authorities for the detentions. 

It said it relayed information about the seafarers to the Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) through the Migrant Workers Office in Los Angeles, and that those returned are eligible for assistance from the DMW upon arrival.

However, US media outlets, citing CBP statements, have reported more details, including information that at least 26 Filipino seafarers were caught up in the law enforcement operation.

Specifically, CBP has confirmed that federal agents boarded eight cruise ships between April 23 and 27 as part of its operations against those using or distributing child sexual exploitation material.   

"After boarding the vessels and interviewing 26 suspected crew members from the Philippines, one suspected crew member from Portugal, and one from Indonesia, officers confirmed that 27 of the 28 subjects were involved in either the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of CSEM or child pornography," CBP confirmed to news outlet USA TODAY.

The consulate's statement essentially said its hands were tied and that CBP "has the authority to vet individuals seeking entry into United States." It said the agency's admissibility decisions "preclude external intervention." 

Consular access for detained Filipinos, it added, "does not alter any decision rendered by U.S. authorities."

Practical assistance, the consulate said, "takes the form of welfare checks, notifying family members and employers" through the Migrant Workers Office and the DMW, or relaying urgent medical concerns to CBP.