MANILA – The Trump administration has launched a large-scale crackdown on illegal immigration, and several Filipinos, primarily recent arrivals, are now facing deportation from the United States.
Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel Romualdez, confirmed in an interview on Saturday that a number of Filipinos have been notified about their pending deportation.
These individuals, many from California, New York, and New Jersey, are among the first to be affected by the administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement.
While specific details about the number or timing of the deportations are unclear, Romualdez advised those affected to explore legal options. “If there is no legal path, my suggestion is voluntary departure,” he said, encouraging those with expired work visas to seek the assistance of an immigration lawyer.
The US Department of Homeland Security recently launched a nationwide ad campaign, warning illegal immigrants to leave or face permanent deportation.
In response, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed relevant agencies to support potentially deported Filipinos, including access to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Assistance to Nationals fund and the Department of Migrant Workers’ Aksyon Fund, which provide legal, medical, and financial aid.
This marks the beginning of what is expected to be an extensive wave of deportations under the second Trump administration.
ia/mnm
