MANILA — Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, has warned Filipinos residing or working illegally in the US to return to the Philippines voluntarily or risk facing deportation under the upcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
In an online forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap), Romualdez highlighted Trump’s firm stance on immigration reform, noting that his campaign promises to deport undocumented immigrants is expected to become a priority.
“My advice to our compatriots who are still here but cannot secure legal status is to not wait to be deported,” Romualdez stated. “The Trump administration will be strict with immigration policy.”
According to Romualdez, there are fewer than half a million Filipinos living illegally in the US, a number smaller than that of other immigrant groups. However, he emphasized that once deported, undocumented individuals may face significant difficulty returning to the US, with a 99% chance of being permanently barred.
Romualdez urged Filipinos in the US to take immediate action, either by returning home or working on securing legal documentation to avoid the risks of deportation under the stricter immigration policies likely to be enacted by the incoming Trump administration.
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