27 cruise ship workers were deported after U.S. Customs and Border Protection canceled their visas during a San Diego operation tied to child sexual exploitation material.
Eight cruise liners were boarded from April 23-27, and CBP detained 28 employees before determining 27 had allegedly received, possessed, transported, distributed or viewed child pornography.
26 of the 27 deportees were from the Philippines, and a CBP source said visa revocation and removal require a lower administrative threshold than criminal prosecution.
At least 10 of those detained worked for Disney Cruise Line, while Holland America also said some employees were implicated; both companies said the workers were terminated.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Southern California said no charges are currently pending, leaving the case centered on immigration enforcement rather than criminal prosecution.
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