Protestors in the US have called on the Philippine government to intervene on behalf of cruise ship workers being targeted in immigration raids.
Four more crew members were detained and deported ‘without due process’ from a Carnival Cruise Line ship in Baltimore recently.
Dozens of people demonstrated and held a press conference outside the Carnival cruise terminal.
“Their due process should be upheld and respected and if they’re proven not guilty, they need assistance,” said Philip Coronado, a former Filipino ship worker.
They demanded a response from the cruise line about why it has stayed silent on the issue and also called out the Philippine ambassador to the U.S. and the Philippines government.
“This was really a heinous act,” protest organizer Mark Rodrigo added.
“We call on the Philippine government to act. It’s really their responsibility to do more.”
Just weeks ago, 28 other Filipino cruise ship workers were detained and deported from another Carnival cruise ship in Norfolk, Virginia.
They say more than 100 have been deported in just a few months.
“This is a law enforcement matter of which we always cooperate, and we defer to the authorities for further comment,” the cruise line said.
