Amid concerns over the new mass deportation policy under President Donald Trump’s administration, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez urged undocumented Filipinos in the United States not to lose hope.
Romualdez encouraged them to assess the situation and remain hopeful, noting that there is a possibility for assistance, especially for those who have been working in the U.S. for a long period of time.
“Those people who have been working here and paying taxes probably have a better chance of staying,” he said.
Although he urged people to remain hopeful, he did clarify that those who overstayed their tourist visas have a lower chance of being granted legal status to remain in the U.S.
As of now, a total of 16 undocumented Filipinos have been deported or are awaiting deportation, according to the Philippine Embassy.
Trump has prioritized deporting individuals with criminal records.
According to Romualdez, there are still Filipinos undergoing processing and evaluation to determine whether or not they will be included on the list of people to be deported back to the Philippines.
The ambassador advised those who have overstayed their tourist visas to leave voluntarily before they are formally processed for deportation.
