Ramdam na umano ang kakulangan ng mga manggagawa sa ilang establisimyento sa Amerika dahil sa isinasagawang kampanya ng U.S. homeland security operations laban sa mga undocumented immigrant. Pati sa "underground economy," makikita rin ang epekto.
Ito ang inihayag ng Filipino-American at Bergenfield, New Jersey Mayor na si Arvin Amatorio, na isa ring immigration lawyer.
"They are scared. I have observed that in certain areas of our community where day laborers are common, more than 50 percent of them have disappeared. This has had a direct impact on the availability of day laborers, as there are businesses that rely on them," saad ni Amatorio sa GMA News Online.
"Our underground economy is the first to be affected. I also know of restaurants that are worried because their employees are afraid to report to work. The immediate impact is on restaurants, construction businesses, and, of course, students who are now concerned," dagdag niya.
Ang dating masiglang "Little Manila" sa Roosevelt Avenue sa Woodside, kapansin-pansin na kakaunti na ang mga tao. Wala na rin ang mga street vendor na nagtitindas ng mga lutuing-Pinoy.
Tinutulungan ni Amatorio ang mga lumalapit sa kaniya at humingi ng payo tungkol sa kanilang immigration status.
Sinasabihan umano niya ang mga matagal nang naninirahan sa U.S. pero walang kaukulang dokumento, at wala rin namang criminal record na makipag-ugnayan sa mga immigration lawyer para makahanap ng paraan kung papaano malulunasan ang kanilang problema.
"This is not the time to procrastinate. Even if you think there is no hope, try to consult a lawyer or someone knowledgeable in immigration law because there might be a legal pathway available for you to legalize your stay in the U.S.," pahayag niya.
Matapos maupo bilang bagong pangulo ng US si Donald Trump, kaagad na ipinatupad ang kaniyang pangako sa kampanya na paalisin ang mga illegal immigrant sa kanilang bansa.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel "Babes" Romualdez na ang mga may kaso o nakakulong na ang unang pinupuntirya sa naturang kampanya.
Pinayuhan ni Amatorio ang mga hindi dokumento na may criminal cases, arrest warrants, o deportation orders na boluntaryo nang bumalik sa Pilipinas. Wala umanong garantiya na hindi sila aarestuhin at ipapa-deport din.
"If you have a criminal record, you are a priority target of the new administration. This is not new—even during the Obama and Biden administrations, Homeland Security and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) focused on arresting those with criminal records and those undergoing removal proceedings. Their goal is to detain and deport them, and this applies not only to Filipinos but to all nationalities. If you are in that situation, I would advise you to self-deport because staying here will be very difficult," ayon sa alkalde. — mula sa ulat ni Dave Llavanes/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
