Senator Raffy Tulfo revealed Friday that he raised concerns to United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson about Filipino seafarers who claimed they were unfairly deported by US immigration authorities.
Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, said he discussed the matter during a recent dinner meeting with Carlson, citing testimonies from seafarers presented at a Senate hearing on August 13.
“During our meeting, I raised the serious concerns of our Filipino seafarers to Ambassador Carlson and brought to her attention those who have been refused entry and deported by the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), even without evidence,” Tulfo said.
According to Tulfo, Carlson assured him that the issue would be reviewed, clarifying that Filipino seafarers are not being specifically targeted.
“Ambassador Carlson said that this is the current immigration policy of the US and stressed that Filipino seafarers are not specifically targeted. Nonetheless, she promised to study and look into the situation closely, acknowledging that Filipino seafarers, being vital agents of maritime commerce, contribute to their economy as a whole,” he added.
During the Senate hearing, seafarers testified that ICE agents boarded their ship upon docking at a US territory, inspecting their mobile phones for child pornographic materials. Despite finding nothing, some crew members were denied entry, detained, and deported.
Carlson explained that the stricter immigration standards have been in effect since the administration of former US President Donald Trump and apply to all nationalities.
Tulfo assured that the Senate would continue monitoring the situation to safeguard the welfare and rights of Filipino migrant workers, especially seafarers.