There is as well some other possible laws broken here, depending on the nationality of the cruise ship.
I doubt ICE has the authority to take anyone off say a Norwegian cruise ship.
Authority of ICE on Foreign Cruise Ships
When it comes to immigration enforcement in the United States, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) generally operates within U.S. territorial waters. However, the authority to detain or remove individuals from a foreign-flagged vessel, such as a Norwegian cruise ship, can be complex and varies based on several factors.
Jurisdiction Factors
Flag State: The cruise ship's nationality (flag state) plays a significant role. If the ship is registered in Norway, American authorities may have limited jurisdiction over it. Typically, the cruise operator must cooperate with U.S. authorities for any enforcement actions.
Location: If the cruise ship is within U.S. territorial waters (generally up to 12 nautical miles from the coastline), ICE may have more authority. Outside of that, enforcement actions would typically fall under the jurisdiction of the ship's flag state's laws.
Specific Agreements: There are international agreements and treaties that may allow for cooperation between countries on immigration and security matters. Such agreements could potentially allow for ICE involvement, but they require coordination with the foreign nation involved.
Circumstances: Specific situations might authorize ICE to intervene, especially if there are issues related to criminal activity or safety concerns on board.
Given these factors, while ICE may have certain powers within U.S. waters, their authority to act on a foreign cruise ship, like a Norwegian one, is indeed murky and likely limited without cooperation from the cruise line and the flag state's consent.
