The captain of an illegal charter boat that flipped in New York Harbor, killing a mom and her baby, is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who is now in federal immigration custody, The Post has learned.
Manuel Hernandez, 46, a limo driver without a boating license, was in the US illegally when he capsized the overloaded 21-foot vessel on Aug. 8, drowning Sara Sanchez and her baby daughter, Antonella Garcia, the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday.
“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,” Mullin added. “Once he faces justice for his crimes, we will make sure that he is swiftly removed from our country.”
Hernandez was arrested and charged in federal court with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death and released on $50,000 bail.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/us-news/captain-in-fatal-ny-harbor-boat-tragedy-is-illegal-immigrant-feds/