MANILA, Philippines — US president-elect Donald Trump will likely carry out his promise of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, and many Filipinos illegally staying in the US are now worried about the plan, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez.
In an interview yesterday on dzBB, Romualdez said he spoke with people from the Trump campaign, and he believed the promised mass deportation would push through.
“This time, it might be serious. American sentiments are stronger now. That’s why president Trump won, that’s (immigration) their main issue. There truly are too many illegal immigrants entering the US right now,” Romualdez said in Filipino.
Trump repeatedly vowed to carry out the largest deportation effort in American history.
“Many of them (illegally staying Filipinos) are getting nervous and asking questions on what the situation really is,” Romualdez said.
He advised Filipinos in the US, who are without any kind of status, not to wait to be deported, but to voluntarily return to the Philippines or start working on their documents.
“Our advice to our countrymen, if you don’t have a chance to get a (citizenship) status while here in America, go home (to the Philippines) first to have a better chance. Because once you get deported, it’s highly likely you will never be able to return to the US,” he added.
Trump said in a television interview on Thursday that one of his first priorities upon taking office in January would be to make the border “strong and powerful.”
Escudero: Philippines should prepare for Trump returnBeyond sending congratulatory words, the Philippines “must be one step ahead” of whatever policy shifts that Trump has vowed to implement once in office, Senate President Francis Escudero said yesterday.
Escudero said the government should start “drawing up scenarios in the Trump era and preparing a response to each.”
“If Trump pushes through with his pronouncement to carry out the greatest mass deportation in US history22fun, then how many of the estimated 300,000 vulnerable Filipinos will be in the first wave of expulsion?” Escudero asked. — Cecille Suerte Felipe
