A U.S. Coast Guard veteran celebrating his 50th birthday on a cruise ship was detained by armed agents in a case of mistaken identity.
At a Glance
- Jose Martinez was handcuffed in his cabin at sunrise on January 5
- He was held in a ship holding cell for about 90 minutes
- Agents said they had the wrong person after fingerprinting him
- Why it matters: The incident highlights how common names can trigger wrongful detentions without due process
Martinez had been enjoying the cruise with his wife Tamara Verhas when three armed agents stormed their cabin. He described flashlights in their faces and agents screaming his name before being handcuffed and taken away.
The Detention
Martinez said he was taken to a holding cell on the ship where he tried to explain his Coast Guard service and offered ID. He was questioned and fingerprinted before agents admitted they had detained the wrong person.
> “From what I understand, all of this was based off my first and last name, a very common Hispanic name. They thought I was someone who had warrants for drug trafficking or some sort of offender.”
Jose Martinez told 12 News
Carnival Cruise Line deferred questions to law enforcement, stating they were aware a guest was taken into custody as a “person of interest.”
Phone Video Deleted
Verhas recorded the incident but said a female ICE agent snatched her phone and deleted the video before returning it. ICE has not responded to requests for comment.
> “The people who are supposed to keep you safe violated us, and that’s a hard thing to live with.”
Tamara Verhas told KOLD
Martinez called the experience “disorientating, traumatizing” and said similar incidents likely happen to others “on the streets or in their homes.”
Key Takeaways
- Border agents detained Martinez based only on his common Hispanic name
- He received no apology after being released
- His wife’s attempt to document the incident was blocked
- The veteran fears this happens to many others without publicity
The couple’s birthday celebration ended with a stark reminder that even U.S. military veterans can face wrongful detention based on nothing more than a shared name.
