Deportation Sought for Suspect in New York Harbor Tragedy

The federal government is moving to deport a man accused of illegally operating a boat that capsized in New York Harbor, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her infant daughter. Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, originally from El Salvador, entered the U.S. illegally through Texas in 2007, misleading a Customs and Border Protection officer into believing he was a U.S. citizen, the Department of Homeland Security reported.

Hernandez, aged 46, from Manville, New Jersey, faces charges of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer leading to death after the accident near Liberty Island on August 8. The victims were identified as Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia. Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security Secretary, stated that upon the conclusion of legal proceedings, they intend to promptly deport Hernandez.

At the time of reporting, Hernandez’s lawyer has not provided a comment. He was released on a $50,000 bail after a hearing where he did not enter a plea, according to NBC New York.

A criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York revealed that Hernandez had not registered the boat and lacked the necessary certification to navigate in the harbor with paying customers. Moreover, there were no infant-sized flotation devices onboard.

Prosecutors claim Hernandez used a friend’s boat for a harbor tour near the Statue of Liberty, as his own boat required repairs. There were 14 people onboard, surpassing the vessel’s limit of 10, which Hernandez did not verify. The complaint also highlights that Antonella’s parents informed Hernandez of the absence of an infant-sized flotation device, to which he responded that the boat lacked one as well. He suggested one parent wear a flotation device and hold the baby, which Sanchez adhered to.

During the tour, approximately 20 minutes in, Hernandez executed a U-turn that led the boat into a swell, causing it to capsize and everyone to be thrown overboard. Hernandez and 11 others were rescued; however, Sanchez and Antonella were unresponsive when retrieved and declared dead after arriving at a Brooklyn hospital.

Jessica Tisch, New York Police Commissioner, remarked in a DHS news release that Hernandez showed blatant disregard for passenger safety by operating an over-capacity, unlicensed boat. Co-workers of Andres Garcia, Antonella’s father and Sanchez’s partner, recounted his enthusiasm for the family tour. He is recognized for his hard work supporting his family in the U.S. and in Colombia, including a 6-year-old child.

Tisch emphasized, “This tragedy was preventable, and now, due to Hernandez’s negligence, a family is grappling with the unimaginable loss of a mother and her young daughter.”