The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recommends that, amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, undocumented and overstaying Filipinos in the United States should lay low while working towards their legalization.
“Our advice is to keep a low profile as possible and work for your legalization,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said during a news forum on Saturday.
He stated that Filipinos in America need only to get in touch with the Embassy of the Philippines or Consulates in the country to obtain aid.
He also added that newly-seated President Donald Trump expressed willingness to cooperate with Democrats in dealing with illegal immigrants who aren’t considered “criminals and terrorists,” which the deportations aim to pick out.
“That means they will make legal means to encourage these productive overstaying aliens to be totally legalized. So, take advantage of that,” De Vega assured.
He continued that Filipino migrants had to have acquired a visa at least, in order to enter the US. He also pointed out that it was improbable for all approximately 300,000 unauthorized Filipino residents would be deported by the end of Trump’s second term.
Aside from having the right to dispute one’s deportation, immigration lawyers could assert that the Filipino is a productive worker and curb their forced removal.
De Vega said the Philippine government prepared, should Trump’s mass deportation affect Filipinos, citing the agency’s Assistance to Nationals fund and the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) AKSYON or Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan fund.