ICE Agents Wrongly Detain Veteran Aboard Cruise Ship

A U.S. veteran and his wife say federal agents wrongly detained him aboard a cruise ship in what authorities later acknowledged was a case of mistaken identity.

Jose “Joey” Martinez, a Phoenix resident and U.S. citizen, was taken into custody in the early hours of January 5, 2026, while his Caribbean cruise was docked in Miami, just hours before passengers were scheduled to disembark.

According to Cruise Hive, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entered Martinez’ cabin around 6:45 a.m., while the couple was still asleep. He was handcuffed and swiftly removed from the ship for questioning.

ICE Agents Wrongly Detain Veteran Aboard Cruise Ship