PH ready to assist affected Filipinos by Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants
Metro Manila, Philippines— US President Donald Trump has ordered a massive crackdown on illegal immigrants, and the Philippine embassy in the United States is preparing to assist Filipinos who may be affected by the stricter policy.
"So that is the main issue that I think that all of us here, or at least the Philippine Embassy and our consulates are concerned about, of which we are obviously prepared to do what we can to help our fellow citizens," said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez in an interview with NewsWatch Plus on Jan. 24.
[Translation: This is the main issue that I think all of us here, or at least the Philippine Embassy and our consulates, are concerned about, and we are obviously prepared to do what we can to help our fellow citizens]
Romualdez said they have engaged and consulted with Filipino-American lawyers.
"Well, my main concern as I said is that, well, they’re going to obviously go after those that are undocumented. Marami tayong mga kababayan as we call them the TNTs. Ngayon, we want to make sure that those that have been here already for such a long time, maybe five years or more, I'm sure that there is a legal path," said Romualdez.
[Translation: Well, my main concern as I said is that they are obviously going to go after those who are undocumented. We have a lot of fellow Filipinos, as we call them TNTs. Now, we want to make sure that those who have been here for a long time, maybe five years or more, have a legal path]
The envoy said the challenge now will be for those newly-arrived Filipinos with expired visas.
"However, those that have been here just recently, yung mga dumating dito on a tourist visa at nag-expire na, it's best for them to think about really leaving already para ganun, para hindi sila masali doon sa mga list of those that will be potentially deported or pag nakalista ka na that you're overstaying, marami naman alam niya, may alam niya na the minute you overstay, naka-record na yan," he said.
[Translation: However, those who have recently arrived, those who came here on a tourist visa and it has already expired, it’s best for them to think about leaving already, so they don’t get included in the list of those who will potentially be deported. Because once you’re listed as overstaying, everyone knows, and the minute you overstay, it’s already recorded]
Trump on Monday signed executive orders declaring illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border a national emergency, designating criminal cartels as terrorist organizations, and targeting automatic citizenship for US-born children of immigrants in the country illegally.
Trump also signed an order expected to suspend the US refugee resettlement program for four months, although the text of the orders was not immediately available.
