U.S. removes 6 Filipino cruise workers over alleged child abuse material

Six Filipino cruise ship crewmembers are at the center of a major U.S. enforcement operation after Customs and Border Protection said they admitted to previously possessing child sexual exploitation or child sexual abuse material.

The six Philippine citizens were encountered on September 20, 2026, aboard the cruise ship Breakaway as U.S. authorities intensified Operation Tidal Wave, a multi-agency crackdown targeting cruise ship workers suspected of involvement in child sexual abuse material.

According to CBP, the six were taken to Boston Logan International Airport for secondary interviews, where authorities said they admitted to previously possessing the illegal material.

CBP officers also searched their living quarters and electronic devices as part of the investigation.

The six Filipinos were later processed for the removal of their conditional landing privileges under U.S. immigration law in connection with alleged crimes involving moral turpitude.

The latest enforcement action brought the total number of cruise ship crewmembers removed at the Port of Boston under Operation Tidal Wave to 87, according to CBP.

Operation Tidal Wave is being carried out by the CBP Office of Field Operations Enforcement Operations Division, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The operation targets cruise ship crewmembers suspected of possessing, using, obtaining, producing, or distributing child sexual exploitation and abuse material.

Earlier phases resulted in enforcement actions against 27 crewmembers in San Diego and the removal of 14 crewmembers in San Juan, with one case accepted for federal prosecution.

U.S. authorities warned that involvement with child sexual abuse material can result in criminal prosecution, immigration removal, and lengthy periods of inadmissibility to the United States.