Filipino Seafarer Denied U.S. Entry and Deported Home

A Filipino crew member bound for duty on a cruise ship was reportedly refused entry to the United States upon arrival in Los Angeles on October 27. According to his family, the seafarer was escorted by immigration officers shortly after landing, questioned, and subjected to an extensive search of his luggage and mobile phone. Within a few hours, he was told he would be deported to the Philippines, with U.S. authorities citing “moral turpitude” on the official documentation.

The man’s family, now appealing for help through online seafarer communities such as Marino PH, described their heartbreak after learning that his ticket had been cancelled and his plans to resume work abruptly ended. They said he was detained for around 24 hours before being sent back to the Philippines, stressing that he had no prior criminal record.

This case reflects a wider pattern emerging in 2025, with increasing reports of Filipino seafarers being deported from U.S. ports following digital inspections or interviews. Seafarer advocacy groups have documented multiple incidents in which crew members were asked to sign documents before removal, often having their C-1/D crew visas revoked, effectively barring them from rejoining ships operating in U.S. waters.

The Norwegian Seafarers’ Union (NSU) has also raised concern over this growing trend, noting that U.S. authorities have intensified background and digital-content checks for all visa holders, including cruise-ship personnel.

According to the NSU, these screenings utilize advanced forensic tools capable of detecting traces of illicit or inappropriate digital activity, such as participation in online groups linked to child exploitation or banned material. In some cases, seafarers were allegedly deported even when no explicit content was found on their devices—only digital evidence of previous group membership connected to ongoing investigations.

In one example cited by the NSU, a crew member was banned from entering the U.S. after forensic scans revealed his past involvement in an online chat group under scrutiny. Although no illegal images were discovered, the link alone led to visa cancellation and deportation, underscoring the strict and far-reaching nature of the new enforcement measures.