ICE detains captain of New York boat that capsized, killing mother and infant daughter
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has taken into custody the captain of a boat that capsized in New York harbor on August 8, killing a woman and her infant daughter, with plans to deport him after his criminal case concludes.
A boat capsized near the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor on August 8, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her infant daughter. The incident occurred late at night, with a 911 call received around 10:25pm triggering a large-scale emergency response involving multiple boat teams, a scuba unit and a helicopter crew.
The New York police department identified the victims as 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her five-month-old daughter, Antonella, who were pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Multiple charges against captain
The boat's operator, 46-year-old Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, is facing a range of federal charges over the incident. New York authorities have charged him with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death.
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE's parent agency, announced that a US Coast Guard investigation found Hernandez to be in the country illegally. The agency said it intends to deport him once the criminal proceedings against him are complete.
Federal authorities said Hernandez is originally from El Salvador and, after crossing the border from Mexico into Texas in 2007, falsely told a border patrol officer that he was a US citizen. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement that once Hernandez faces justice for his crimes, authorities will ensure he is swiftly removed from the country.
Part of a broader immigration crackdown
Hernandez's detention comes as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration enforcement efforts. In recent months, federal agents have carried out hundreds of arrests across New York and New Jersey, disproportionately affecting people from Latin American countries. Since January 2025, according to figures released last month, the administration has deported more than 590,600 people from the US.
