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PoliticalUnited States·20 Aug 2026 · 6d ago

ICE arrests boat captain following fatal New York Harbor crash

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On August 8, a 21-foot boat piloted by 46-year-old Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana capsized near the Statue of Liberty, resulting in the deaths of 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia. Federal prosecutors charged Hernandez-Umana, an El Salvadoran national who admitted to entering the U.S. illegally in 2007, with misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death. Following his initial release on a $50,000 bond, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him on August 20. The criminal complaint alleged that the captain failed to carry infant life vests and improperly accelerated into a swell, causing the boat to overturn.

Consequences

Hernandez-Umana faces ongoing federal charges and 13 state counts of reckless endangerment, with his next court appearance scheduled for September 9. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the government intends to pursue his removal from the country following the conclusion of his criminal proceedings.

Sources

UPI
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