Embassy to help undocumented Filipinos in US as mass deportation looms | ABS-CBN
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Embassy to help undocumented Filipinos in US as mass deportation looms
Embassy to help undocumented Filipinos in US as mass deportation looms
Zen Hernandez,
ABS-CBN News
Published Nov 13, 2024 01:16 PM PHT
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures at supporters after speaking as he holds hands with former US First Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024.Jim Watson, AFP
MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in the United States (US) said it would assist Filipinos who could be affected by a possible mass deportation policy under President-elect Donald Trump.
MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in the United States (US) said it would assist Filipinos who could be affected by a possible mass deportation policy under President-elect Donald Trump.
The 78-year-old Republican tycoon has pledged to launch -- on day one of his presidency -- the largest deportation operation of undocumented immigrants in US history.
The 78-year-old Republican tycoon has pledged to launch -- on day one of his presidency -- the largest deportation operation of undocumented immigrants in US history.
“The Philippine Embassy has scheduled a planning session with the consulates on the first week of December to discuss how we can assist Filipinos,” said Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez.
“The Philippine Embassy has scheduled a planning session with the consulates on the first week of December to discuss how we can assist Filipinos,” said Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez.
Romualdez said there were roughly 250,000 to 350,000 undocumented Filipinos in the US. But in order to provide the appropriate assistance, the Philippine government needs to know the details of the mass deportation first.
Romualdez said there were roughly 250,000 to 350,000 undocumented Filipinos in the US. But in order to provide the appropriate assistance, the Philippine government needs to know the details of the mass deportation first.
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“As soon as details are available, it will be passed on to our immigration lawyers. They will go through it and assess who are qualified to take the legal path and stay in the US. But if talagang there’s no legal pathway for you to stay, it is better to depart because if you are deported, you can never come back. Once you are deported, you are blacklisted,” Romualdez warned.
“As soon as details are available, it will be passed on to our immigration lawyers. They will go through it and assess who are qualified to take the legal path and stay in the US. But if talagang there’s no legal pathway for you to stay, it is better to depart because if you are deported, you can never come back. Once you are deported, you are blacklisted,” Romualdez warned.
Trump -- who never conceded his 2020 loss -- sealed a remarkable comeback to the presidency in the November 5 vote, cementing what is set to be more than a decade of US politics dominated by his hardline right-wing stance.
Trump -- who never conceded his 2020 loss -- sealed a remarkable comeback to the presidency in the November 5 vote, cementing what is set to be more than a decade of US politics dominated by his hardline right-wing stance.
During his campaign, he repeatedly railed against undocumented immigrants, employing violent rhetoric about those who "poison the blood" of the United States.
During his campaign, he repeatedly railed against undocumented immigrants, employing violent rhetoric about those who "poison the blood" of the United States.
In rally speeches, he wildly exaggerated local tensions and misled his audiences about immigration statistics and policy.
In rally speeches, he wildly exaggerated local tensions and misled his audiences about immigration statistics and policy.
Violent crime, which spiked under Trump, has fallen in every year of President Joe Biden's administration.
Violent crime, which spiked under Trump, has fallen in every year of President Joe Biden's administration.
Migrants commit fewer crimes proportionately than the native population, though foreign suspects have been named in a few high-profile cases of violent attacks on women and children, infuriating Republicans.
Migrants commit fewer crimes proportionately than the native population, though foreign suspects have been named in a few high-profile cases of violent attacks on women and children, infuriating Republicans.
The number of US border patrol encounters with migrants crossing over from Mexico illegally is now about the same as in 2020, the last year of Trump's presidency, after peaking at a record 250,000 for the month of December 2023.
The number of US border patrol encounters with migrants crossing over from Mexico illegally is now about the same as in 2020, the last year of Trump's presidency, after peaking at a record 250,000 for the month of December 2023.
Trump vowed to tackle migrant gangs using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 -- which allows the federal government to round up and deport foreigners belonging to enemy countries -- as part of a mass deportation drive he christened "Operation Aurora."
Trump vowed to tackle migrant gangs using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 -- which allows the federal government to round up and deport foreigners belonging to enemy countries -- as part of a mass deportation drive he christened "Operation Aurora."
Aurora was the scene of a viral video showing armed Latinos rampaging through an apartment block that spurred sweeping, false narratives about the town being terrorized by Latin American migrants.
Aurora was the scene of a viral video showing armed Latinos rampaging through an apartment block that spurred sweeping, false narratives about the town being terrorized by Latin American migrants.
Trump has similarly promoted the fictitious story that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating residents' pets.
Trump has similarly promoted the fictitious story that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating residents' pets.
— With a report from Agence France-Presse
Read More:
Donald Trump
United States
immigration
undocumented Filipinos
Philippine Embassy
US immigration
Babe Romualdez
OFW
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