Filipino American immigration lawyer Jath Shao, in his recent Inquirer.net column, disclosed that over the past 25 years, 25,300 undocumented Filipinos have been deported from the United States. The figures, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act from the US Department of Homeland Security, also show that among these cases, around 3,300 were charged with felony offenses, while 3,700 faced other criminal charges. Notably, 723 crossed the US border without inspection, 12 were charged with national security violations, and one was charged with terrorism.
Despite these significant figures, Filipinos represent just 0.02 percent of the total deportation cases in the US during this period. Currently, there are 1,218 Filipinos facing removal among the 3.7 million active cases, with most originating from California, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey. While 185 of these individuals face serious charges, the majority have overstayed their visas.
Shao emphasized that the US legal system guarantees due process and has multiple layers of appeals. He pointed out that one-third of Filipinos in removal proceedings may face deportation orders, with others either winning their cases, opting for voluntary departure, or having their cases dismissed due to factors such as insufficient government paperwork or unique forms of relief.
Shao reassured undocumented immigrants to prepare rather than fear, noting that the system cannot feasibly handle the mass deportation of millions. He stressed that honesty in legal proceedings is paramount, as misrepresentation can permanently hinder an immigrant’s path to legal status and achieving the American dream.
