U.S. Deportation of Filipino Sailors Raises Concerns Over Due Process and Immigration Policy
A significant number of Filipino sailors have been deported from the United States since 2025, with over 200 cases reported. These sailors, including Michael James Garcia, have been accused of possessing child sexual abuse material but have not been formally charged. The deportations have occurred across various U.S. ports, including Baltimore, San Diego, and Port Canaveral. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has stated that these actions are part of efforts to combat child exploitation. However, the sailors claim they were not shown evidence of the accusations, and their visas were revoked without due process. The Pilipino Workers Center has documented these cases, highlighting the lack of charges or prosecutions against the sailors.