Foreign Crew Members of Cruise Ships Removed for Possession of Child Abuse Material

U.S. authorities removed 87 foreign crew members from cruise ships at Boston’s port under Operation Tidal Wave, a Customs and Border Protection-led effort to identify and arrest people linked to child sexual abuse material. In a Sept. 25 statement, CBP said officers found six Philippine nationals aboard a cruise ship who admitted they possessed child sexual abuse material. Those individuals will be processed for removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which makes foreign nationals who admit to acts involving moral turpitude inadmissible. CBP warned that federal law can carry severe penalties for those involved, including criminal prosecution and up to 10 years of inadmissibility. The operation also included Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. CBP cited NCMEC data showing more than 21 million CyberTipline reports last year related to child exploitation. The brief also referenced other enforcement actions, including Operation Relentless Justice and Operation Iron Pursuit.