MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advised undocumented and overstaying Filipinos in the United States to a “keep a low profile” and work to legalize their stay as the Trump administration tightens immigration policies.
At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said the DFA will extend aid to Filipinos who will reach out to the Philippine Embassy or the consulates in the US.
“Our advice is to keep a low profile as possible and work for your legalization,” he said.
He noted that President Donald Trump said he can work with Democrats about illegal aliens who don’t fall under the categories of illegal immigrants they target to deport, namely “criminals and terrorists.”
“That means they will make legal means to encourage these productive overstaying aliens to be totally legalized. So, take advantage of that,” he added.
De Vega noted that all Filipinos, even if undocumented, traveled to the US with at least a visa in their possession.
“Lahat iyan may visa. Nag-expire lang. Walang halos tumawid na walang kapapel-papel (Everyone had a visa, it might just have expired. No one crossed without at least one document),” he said.
De Vega said it is “almost impossible” that the estimated 300,000 Filipinos without legal status in the US would be deported by the end of the Trump administration.
“If you are targeted for deportation, you have legal means also to contest your deportation and at least legally stay for several months,” he said.
“(Some immigration lawyers could) argue that you are doing something productive in the US. And sometimes, it’s a success, it prevents deportation,” he shared.
During the first Trump presidency, De Vega said the US deported “only a few hundred or less” undocumented Filipinos every month, lesser than the number during the Obama administration.
“Tingnan natin, kunwari bigla lang in six months may 20,000 na-deport o 10,000, then umakyat talaga. Huwag tayo mag-conclude until makita natin iyong data in six to eight months kung dadami ang made-deport (Let’s see if by six months it balloons to thousands then there really is an increase. Let’s not conclude until we see the data in six to eight months),” he said.
He reiterated that that the Philippine government is ready to respond should this planned mass deportation impact Filipinos.
He added that the government could easily tap the DFA Assistance-to-Nationals fund.
There is also the Department of Migrant Workers’ Aksyon (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan) Fund, which is used for legal, medical, financial and other forms of assistance for overseas Filipino workers, like repatriation and intervention to protect the rights of nationals.
“The President talked to President Trump and our ambassador has assured them that they’ll give them the assistance,” he said. (PNA)