Illegal immigrant captain arrested after overloaded harbor boat kills mother and infant

Manuel Hernandez, a 46-year-old Salvadoran who arrived in the United States illegally, was employed as a limo driver but also piloted unlicensed charter trips on a 21-foot boat in New York Harbor. On Aug. 8, he took 14 passengers on a birthday cruise near Liberty Island, exceeding the vessel’s typical capacity of ten and providing no infant-size life jackets. When a swell struck, Hernandez accelerated, causing the boat to overturn and sending everyone into the water.

Sara Sanchez, 27, and her five-month-old daughter Antonella Garcia drowned, while other passengers were rescued by nearby boats and emergency services. Federal prosecutors have charged Hernandez with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death; he was released on $50,000 bail but is now detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the captain a “criminal illegal alien” and pledged his removal after the criminal case concludes. Coast Guard investigators emphasized that illegal charter operations endanger lives and cited the absence of required safety equipment.