ICE arrests boat captain in New York Harbor crash that killed mother and infant

Aug. 20 (UPI) -- A boat captain already facing federal charges in a deadly New York Harbor crash this month has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security said.

Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, 46, was at the helm of a 21-foot boat when it capsized near the Statue of Liberty on Aug. 8, killing Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, prosecutors said. He is charged with misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death.

Hernandez-Umana appeared in federal court Aug. 10 and did not enter a plea. He was released that day on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered not to operate any boat. His next court date is set for Sept. 9.

According to the criminal complaint, he piloted the boat into a swell and increased speed to push through it, causing the bow to be swamped and the vessel to capsize, CNN reported. Prosecutors have also said there were no infant life jackets on board. The crash has focused new attention on whether safety rules for small boats in the harbor were followed.

Hernandez-Umana, a citizen of El Salvador, said he entered the United States illegally in 2007 through Texas and falsely told a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that he was a U.S. citizen, according to DHS. In addition to the federal case, the New York Police Department has brought state charges against him, including 13 counts of reckless endangerment.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement: “Once he faces justice for his crimes, we will make sure that he is swiftly removed from our country.” The arrest puts Hernandez-Umana in ICE custody while his criminal cases move forward, and it sets up the possibility of removal proceedings after the charges are resolved. The episode has also renewed broader questions about safety enforcement on recreational boats in the busy waters around the Statue of Liberty.