August 20, 2026 NEW YORK, NY A nightmarish party boat trip in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty has escalated into a high-stakes federal case after immigration authorities detained the vessel's captain following a tragic double drowning.
Manuel Hernandez, 45, is currently in federal custody after federal agents took over the investigation into the horrific August 8 capsizing near Liberty Island that claimed the lives of 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.
The 22-foot vessel, which authorities say was dangerously overloaded, flipped in the waters off Lower Manhattan, sending passengers into New York Harbor. While NYPD Harbor Unit officers and U.S. Coast Guard crews managed to pull Sanchez and her infant daughter from the water, emergency responders were unable to revive them. Both were pronounced dead at nearby hospitals. Other surviving passengers were transported to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn in stable condition.
Unlicensed Tours and Federal Allegations
Following an initial arrest by the NYPD, federal authorities stepped in, revealing that Hernandez was operating an illicit business in one of the nation's busiest waterways.
Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed that Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, was running unlicensed commercial tour runs around the Statue of Liberty when the catastrophe occurred. Federal records indicate Hernandez originally entered the United States through Texas in 2007 by fraudulently claiming U.S. citizenship.
"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," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement. "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."
Facing Justice Before Deportation
Hernandez was seen leaving the U.S. District Courthouse in Manhattan on August 19 alongside his defense attorney. Visibly shaken, exhausted, and still wearing the same clothing from the day of the disaster, the captain now faces severe federal charges, including two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death.
Law enforcement officials have placed the blame for the preventable tragedy squarely on Hernandez's reckless operational decisions.
