What was meant to be a joyful birthday cruise ended in shock for a Carnival Cruise Line guest after a case of mistaken identity led to an early-morning encounter with federal agents.
Jose Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Coast Guard veteran from Phoenix, was returning from a Caribbean cruise with his wife and friends when the incident unfolded on January 5, 2026, at PortMiami.
The ship had docked early that morning, and passengers were preparing to disembark after what had otherwise been a normal vacation.
Instead, Martinez’s cruise ended with handcuffs, questioning, and nearly two hours in a holding cell.
Early Morning Knock Turns Into Nightmare
At around 6:45 a.m., while the couple was still asleep in their stateroom, several ICE agents suddenly entered without warning. Martinez said flashlights were shone in their faces as officers ordered him out of bed and against the wall.
He was handcuffed almost immediately and repeatedly asked what was happening, but said he received no clear explanation at the time.
Martinez attempted to show proof of his identity, but his efforts were ignored as agents escorted him off the ship.
His wife, Tamara Verhas, tried to record the incident on her phone, but the device was taken and later returned without the video.
Martinez was brought to a holding area at PortMiami, where he was fingerprinted and questioned for roughly 90 minutes.
A Case of Shared Names and No Clear Answers
The detainment stemmed from a simple but serious mistake: Martinez shares a common name with another individual who reportedly has multiple outstanding warrants.
Martinez later said this was not the first time his name had been confused, but never to this extreme.
After authorities confirmed he was not the person they were looking for, Martinez was released and allowed to leave the terminal. He says no apology was offered, and the experience left him shaken and confused.
Carnival Cruise Line later confirmed that law enforcement requested access to the stateroom as part of a standard customs review process. The cruise line stated it complied with authorities and deferred further questions to federal agencies.
This move also aligns with broader shifts in Carnival’s strategy, as the cruise line has recently expanded its adults-only sailings for 2026 in response to growing demand from mature travellers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not issued a public comment on the incident.
For Martinez, what should have been a memorable birthday trip instead became a reminder of how quickly travel plans can change and how a name alone can lead to a deeply unsettling experience.
