Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken custody of Manuel Ernesto Hernández Umaña, a 46-year-old Salvadoran national operating an overloaded Yamaha AR210 boat that capsized near New York’s Statue of Liberty on August 8, 2026.
The Night of the Tragedy in New York Harbor
The excursion began as a birthday celebration, costing the group $1,800 for a three-hour night tour of the New York harbor. According to federal court documents cited by Infobae, Hernández Umaña took out a Yamaha AR210 vessel with a capacity for 10 people, yet he loaded it with 14 passengers. Worse still, before leaving the dock, he informed the parents that there were no life jackets on board for infants, instructing one parent to wear an adult vest and hold the five-month-old baby for the duration of the trip.
As the boat navigated near Liberty Island, Hernández Umaña executed a sharp U-turn, bringing the vessel’s bow directly into the wake of a much larger ship. He accelerated to clear the wave, but water immediately flooded the bow, causing the boat to capsize. Emergency responders pulled 12 survivors from the water with minor injuries, while Sara Sánchez and infant Antonella were rushed to a hospital in critical condition, where they ultimately died. Andrés García, the baby’s father, survived the wreck.
Immigration Status and Federal Custody
Hernández Umaña, a resident of Manville, New Jersey, admitted to authorities that he entered the United States illegally through Texas in 2007 by impersonating a U.S. citizen to a Customs and Border Protection officer. Initially employed as a limousine driver for Zeus Luxury Rental Inc., he routinely operated boat excursions in the harbor, charging roughly USD 1,000 per trip.
On August 10, 2026, he appeared before a federal court in Manhattan, where he entered no plea and was released on a personal recognizance bond of USD 50,000 under strict orders not to operate any watercraft. However, on August 19, ICE agents arrested him following confirmation of his unlawful status.
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated in a communique that once Hernández Umaña stands before justice for his crimes, they will ensure he is swiftly expelled from the country.
Legal Charges and Corporate Scrutiny
The legal fallout spans both federal and local jurisdictions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York charged Hernández Umaña with two federal counts of misconduct and negligence as a vessel officer resulting in death, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Additionally, the New York City Police Department filed 13 state counts of reckless endangerment.
The charter company itself, Zeus Luxury Rental Inc., faces mounting regulatory pressure. Federal filings indicate the company lacked record of having requested Coast Guard certification. Public records also show that another vessel operated by the firm caught fire during a birthday excursion in the Long Island Sound a year prior.
| Metric / Detail | Recorded Fact |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | August 8, 2026 |
| Vessel Capacity vs. Load | Capacity: 10 passengers | Actual Load: 14 passengers |
| Federal Charges | 2 counts of misconduct and negligence resulting in death |
| State Charges | 13 counts of reckless endangerment (NYPD) |
| Immigration Action | ICE custody following August 19, 2026 arrest |
With Hernández Umaña currently detained under immigration authority ahead of his criminal trial, federal officials maintain that deportation proceedings will follow the conclusion of his court case.
