Amb. Romualdez to undocumented Pinoys in US: Don’t lose hope amid deportation fears

Amid the mass deportation policy implemented by the Trump administration, Philippine Ambassador to Washington D.C. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez urged undocumented Filipinos in the US to assess the situation realistically but not lose hope.

Romualdez said stated that there is a possibility for assistance, particularly for Filipinos who have been working in the US for a long time and have a clean record, even if they lack legal documents. “Those people who have been working here and paying taxes probably have a better chance of staying,” he said.

However, he emphasized that those who have overstayed their tourist visas are unlikely to be granted legal status to remain in the United States.

Currently, 16 undocumented Filipinos have already been deported or are awaiting deportation back to the Philippines, according to the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. According to Romualdez, some of them are involved in cases or have criminal records and do not hold legal visas to stay in the US.

One specific case involves a Filipino who was scheduled for deportation but is currently in jail awaiting a court hearing.

US President Donald Trump has previously stated his determination to remove all illegal residents from America, focusing first on those with criminal records.

According to Romualdez, aside from those already deported or scheduled for deportation, there are still Filipinos being processed, and evaluations are being made to determine if they will be included in the deportation list.

The Philippine Embassy is providing assistance to undocumented Filipinos through immigration lawyers who offer legal advice and outline available options for them.

However, Romualdez advises illegal immigrants—those who entered the US on tourist visas and then overstayed—to consider voluntarily leaving the country rather than waiting for the possibility of deportation. — BM, GMA Integrated News