The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has issued guidance to Filipinos in the United States who are undocumented or have overstayed their visas, recommending they maintain a low profile and pursue legal status. This advice comes in response to the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies. During a news forum in Quezon City, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega emphasized that the department is prepared to assist Filipinos who contact the Philippine Embassy or consulates in the US.
De Vega highlighted that President Trump has expressed willingness to collaborate with Democrats on the issue of illegal immigrants who are not categorized as criminals or terrorists, suggesting a potential pathway for these individuals to legalize their status. He pointed out that all Filipinos entering the US had at least a visa, which may have expired, but stressed that it’s highly unlikely that the 300,000 undocumented Filipinos would all be deported before the end of Trump’s term.
He advised that those facing deportation have legal options to challenge their removal and possibly extend their stay. De Vega noted that during Trump’s first term, the deportation numbers were lower than under the Obama administration, with only a few hundred Filipinos deported monthly. He cautioned against jumping to conclusions about increased deportations without seeing data over the next six to eight months.
The Philippine government, De Vega assured, is ready to respond to any mass deportation efforts affecting Filipinos, with resources like the DFA’s Assistance-to-Nationals fund and the Department of Migrant Workers’ Aksyon Fund available for legal, medical, and financial support, as well as repatriation and rights protection for overseas Filipino workers. He mentioned that President Trump and the Philippine ambassador have discussed providing assistance to affected Filipinos.