DMW to assist over 300K Filipinos in US amid possible deportation 

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday that it will assist over 300,000 undocumented Filipinos in the United States who could possibly be deported soon following the victory of president-elect Donald Trump, who promised a mass deportation of illegal immigrants. 

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that there are an estimated 370,000 undocumented Filipino immigrants in the US. 

“The DMW is prepared to assist our OFWs, whether they are documented or undocumented OFWs. Under the directives of our President, a whole-of-government team is here to provide support to possible deportees,” said Cacdac in a statement. 

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said that they were ready to provide assistance to deported Filipinos despite illegal immigrants not falling under their jurisdiction.

“All over the world, araw araw ‘yan mayroon tayo. Kahit na sa US, kahit saan manggaling 'yan, kung pasok sila sa aming membership, whether they are active or not, bibigyan ng assistance 'yan. Depende sa kanilang status,” said OWWA Administrator Arnel Ignacio in an interview with GMA News Online.

(All over the world, we have that every day. Even in the US or wherever you come from, if they are included in our membership whether they are active or not, assistance will be provided. It depends on their status.)

“Kung you’re asking for reparation or special arrangements, dito sa OWWA, hindi na kailangan… kasi 24 oras ready to eh, kasi ‘yan lang naman ginagawa namin araw araw. Laging merong nakahanda dito. Whether medical, financial, 24 oras ‘yan, mayroon tayong tao sa airport. Kahit na biglaan… We’re always ready, di na kailangan ng special arrangement,” he added.

(If you’re asking for repatriation or special arrangements from OWWA, that isn’t needed… because we are ready 24/7, because that is what we do every day. We are always ready here. Whether medical, financial, we always have someone at the airport 24/7. Even when it’s sudden… We’re always ready, there’s no need for a special arrangement.)

During Trump’s first term in the White House from 2017 to 2020, over 3,500 Filipinos were deported with the highest being recorded in 2018 with 503. 

The DMW added that it already coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs to prepare support mechanisms such as financial, medical, and legal assistance through the government’s AKSYON and Emergency Repatriation Fund. 

“We will continuously coordinate with the DFA and with the US authorities on monitoring the developments on the ground. Rest assured that DMW, along with its partner agencies, is ready to provide support and assistance to our OFWs,” said Cacdac. 

Further, the department promised assistance in job retooling, reskilling, and employment facilitation to affected Filipinos. 

The DMW also said that it is looking for job opportunities in Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, and Japan for illegal Filipino immigrants in the US who could be deported. 

Trump reiterated in his victory speech earlier that he would close borders in the United States and would impose stricter laws against illegal aliens. 

“We gonna have to seal up those borders, we are gonna have to let people come into our country. We want people to come back in, but they have to come in legally… We are gonna start by putting America first,” he said. 

Data gathered by the GMA Integrated News Research showed that there are 4,640,313 Filipinos in the US as of last year, according to the latest figures by the US Census Bureau. 

Further, data from the US Department of Homeland Security stated that Filipinos have the fifth largest unauthorized immigrant population in the US with 350,000 in 2022. —with Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF/VBL, GMA Integrated News