US envoy to review complaints of seafarers’ alleged ordeal involving ICE

US envoy to review complaints of seafarers’ alleged ordeal involving ICE
John Eric Mendoza - August 22, 2025 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2098999/us-envoy-to-review-complaints-of-s...

MANILA, Philippines — Washington’s Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson will study the complaints of Filipino seafarers over the incident involving America’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the camp of Sen. Raffy Tulfo said on Friday.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate committee on migrant workers, said Carlson made the commitment after the situation of the Filipino seafarers was brought up during a recent dinner meeting with the United States (US) ambassador, according to a news release from the senator’s office.

INQUIRER.net sought US Embassy spokesperson Jameson DeBose for comment.

During a hearing on Aug. 13, Tulfo learned that ICE officers boarded a ship that docked at a US territory and proceeded to inspect the Filipino crew’s mobile phones one by one to look for possible child pornography materials.

The seafarers said that while no child pornographic materials were found on their phones, their entry was still denied, and some were allegedly detained before being deported.

“Ambassador Carlson admitted that while US Immigration is the one authorized to enforce any action at all points of entry, she also believes that they, too, can make mistakes,” according to Tulfo’s office press release.

A seafarer revealed during the same hearing that he was stopped at the airport due to a video of him kissing his three-year-old son, reportedly considered by US authorities as child pornography material.

According to Tulfo’s office, the senator told Carlson that US authorities “should have at least presented evidence if they indeed found child pornographic materials on the seafarers’ phones before subjecting them to such negative actions.”

“Ambassador Carlson assured that she would study the complaints of the Filipino seafarers,” the statement from the senator’s camp said.

Carlson also explained that entry standards of US Immigration became “much stricter” under the administration of US President Donald Trump, but “this policy is applied to all nationalities, not just Filipinos,” the press release said.

However, Department of Migrant Workers chief Bernard Olalia noted that some of those accused of consuming child pornography were “not randomly selected” and were “specifically and definitely and categorically identified” by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).