The Philippines is in touch with United States authorities to protect the rights of Filipinos detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the US, remains actively engaged in assisting detained Filipino nationals to ensure their well-being and treatment according to the law and international standards,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angelica Escalona said in a statement on Saturday.
The statement came after US-based Filipino civil rights advocates accused the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. of turning a blind eye to reports of medical neglect inside detention centers holding Filipino nationals.
Escalona said the DFA closely monitors the condition of detained Filipinos and only shares information with their consent.
She added that medical concerns are raised with authorities as necessary based on information provided by the detainees or their families.
The DFA has also denied allegations from a group of migrant workers in the US claiming that Philippine authorities have been silent on issues of medical neglect and lack of support for detained or deported Filipinos.
The department said it remains in contact with US authorities to ensure the rights and welfare of all Filipino nationals are protected.
Rights groups have long urged both US and Philippine officials to strengthen safeguards for migrant workers, particularly those detained in immigration facilities or facing deportation proceedings. As of 2024, thousands of Filipinos are estimated to be living or working in the United States without proper documentation.
