Federal immigration authorities have taken Manuel Hernandez, 46, into custody following a fatal boating accident in New York Harbor earlier this month. The incident involved a speedboat that capsized while touring near the Statue of Liberty, an event that resulted in the deaths of a woman and her infant child.

Following the accident, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the arrest of the vessel's captain. While both the Washington Examiner and The Independent report that Hernandez was in the United States illegally, the outlets differ in their focus regarding his background. The Washington Examiner provides specific details regarding his entry into the country, stating he arrived in 2007 after allegedly providing false information to Customs and Border Protection. The Independent focuses primarily on the immediate circumstances of the arrest and the nature of the maritime incident, framing the arrest as a consequence of his immigration status discovered during the investigation into the capsizing.

Authorities have not yet released full details regarding the specific charges Hernandez may face related to the operation of the vessel or the deaths of the passengers. The investigation into the cause of the capsizing remains ongoing, separate from the immigration enforcement action.