NEW YORK CITY, NY - An illegal immigrant from El Salvador who is accused of causing a boat he was operating off the New York Harbor to capsize earlier in August, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her infant, is facing deportation alongside federal charges related to the fatal boating incident.
Homeland Security issued a press release on August 19th regarding the arrest of 46-year-old Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, an illegal alien from El Salvador, who was allegedly operating an unlicensed tour boat attraction that reportedly ended in tragedy earlier in the month.
On August 8th, Hernandez-Umana was allegedly operating a vessel off the New York Harbor with a total of 14 occupants aboard despite said vessel having a maximum capacity of ten occupants, with authorities saying the overcrowded vessel eventually capsized. First responders from the Coast Guard, NYPD, and New York City Fire Department responded to the overturned vessel, where two of the recovered victims were later pronounced deceased upon arrival at an area hospital.
In a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the two deceased victims were identified as a 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old baby. Authorities say at the time of the incident Hernandez-Umana was operating the unauthorized paid tour sans the necessary Merchant Mariner Credential, which is a certification issued by the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct said types of boat tours.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald issued a statement regarding the matter, emphasizing the importance of required accreditation and inspections to ensure the safety of those boarding commercial vessels.
“Federal regulations and maritime safety protocols exist to protect the lives and wellbeing of passengers on commercial vessels. The defendant allegedly flouted those regulations when he transported paying customers on a commercial vessel without appropriate licenses, overcrowded the vessel, and took on a five-month-old infant passenger, with no infant life vests onboard. We mourn the tragic drowning deaths of the infant and her mother and urge would-be tour operators and the public to observe all safety protocols for commercial vessels,” McDonald stated.
Hernandez-Umana has since been charged with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death. Additionally, Hernandez-Umana is also facing deportation proceedings, with Homeland Security officials saying he admitted to unlawfully entering the United States through Texas back in 2007.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement regarding the incident, “This criminal illegal alien was illegally and recklessly conducting unlicensed boat tours in New York Harbor when his boat capsized, killing a 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old baby. Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of the Coast Guard, ICE, and our federal, state, and local partners, this criminal is off our streets and out of our waterways. Once he faces justice for his crimes, we will make sure that he is swiftly removed from our country.”
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