“Can the undocumented Filipinos pick up the pieces of shattered dreams and start life anew here?”
Filipino communities in the United States are reported to be on tenterhooks—or a state of suspense and agitation—over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Since his return to the White House on Jan. 20, Trump has signed a raft of immigration-related executive orders to strictly enforce US border policy, tighten visa-vetting procedures and clamp down on illegal immigrants.
He has also suspended refugee admissions and sought to end to birthright citizenship, although a court has temporarily blocked the move to end automatic US citizenship for children born to unauthorized immigrants on US soil.
Migrant communities across the US are worried that Trump’s tougher immigration policy could potentially lead to unjust treatment of migrants, regardless of their status. Trump’s immigration crackdown puts those with pending residency papers at risk and raises the prospect of imminent deportation for those staying in the United States illegally.
At present, there are an estimated 350,000 undocumented immigrants from the Philippines in the US, according to data from the US Department of Homeland Security. The US Census Bureau says there are more than 4 million Filipino-Americans in the entire country.
About 2.14 million of Fil-Ams were registered voters at the last count, and political analysts have said Filipino Americans were crucial in helping Trump sweep all seven swing states during the US polls in Nov. 2024.
But even if many of them voted for Trump, it is ironic that he has targeted undocumented Filipinos and wants them sent back to the Philippines.
Our officials have allayed fears that mass deportations of undocumented Filipino immigrants would happen soon. They said those who entered the US legally should have nothing to fear but vowed that Manila would be ready to assist any Filipinos in need.
Last month, the Philippine Embassy in Washington said there were 16 Filipino nationals in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 15 of whom have deportation orders and one with a pending case.
News reports have quoted Foreign Affairs Secretary Eduardo Manalo as saying that Filipinos generally have a “good reputation” in the US because they contribute to such fields as healthcare, banking and hotel services.
For his part, Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega has stated that Trump is targeting illegal immigrants who have been involved in crime or those not contributing to the US economy.
He clarified that Filipinos are productive members of the US economy and many of them are conservatives.
In a recent article, Atty. Arnedo S. Valera, executive director of the Global Migrant Heritage Foundation and head of a US immigration and anti-discrimination law firm for more than 32 years, has urged undocumented Filipinos to seek legal guidance from licensed immigration attorneys who can provide insights into possible options, including guidance on family-based petitions and other legal remedies.
Legal options are restricted, Valera argued, with the primary means for relief coming from family-based petitions.
A genuine, bona fide marriage to a US citizen can provide some hope for legal status, but this avenue is neither simple nor accessible for everyone. Individuals with prior violations face additional hurdles.
For green card holders who have run afoul of the law, the situation is just as dire. Their previous immigration violations and criminal records could make them a priority for deportation.
While the Filipino community is known for their resilience and adaptability to conditions in their adopted home, Valera said new pressures under the Trump administration will force undocumented Filipinos to prepare and empower themselves to face a daunting challenge.
Though the way forward may be uncertain, he concluded, access to accurate information and legal assistance can provide essential support, offering hope and clarity in an otherwise bleak landscape.
Many of us have family members and relatives who have chosen to leave everything behind and chase the American dream.
But the undocumented ones who had hoped to improve their lot in the United States may have to return home not on their own volition, but under extreme pressure from the current Trump administration.
Can they pick up the pieces of shattered dreams and start life anew here?
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)