Despite holding US green cards, Filipinos remain at risk of losing their status, particularly under the hardline immigration policies under US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez emphasized that a green card is a privilege, not a right, and can be revoked under certain conditions.
“Even if you are a green card holder, as explained by the State Department, it’s a privilege granted to you. It allows you to live permanently in the United States, but it can still be revoked,” Romualdez told GMA News.
According to 2021 data from the Migration Policy Institute, the Philippines was the fourth-largest source of new US permanent residents, with around 27,500 Filipinos—roughly 4% of the 740,000 new lawful permanent residents (LPRs)—obtaining green cards, mostly through family reunification.
Earlier, Romualdez urged Filipinos in the US to ensure their legal status to avoid deportation.
However, concerns persist even for green card holders, especially after a recent case involving a Filipino-American detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
NBC News reported that Lewelyn Dixon, a Filipino-American who had been a US green card holder for 50 years, was arrested at Seattle airport in late February upon returning from the Philippines.
Romualdez confirmed her detention, noting that it may be linked to a past legal issue.
“Her past case, which I think occurred in 2001, came up. But as I said, in these situations, there’s always an exchange of information among all the agencies in the US. That’s why I always tell our fellow countrymen to be prepared for anything,” he said.