The Philippine government is prepared to support Filipinos who may be affected by the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured on Monday.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac clarified that, as of now, no large-scale deportations of undocumented Filipino migrants in the US have been reported. However, the agency remains in close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Washington to monitor developments.
“Importante na hindi tayo magdulot ng pangamba sa ating mga kababayan. Wala pang mass deportation na nagaganap, but we are actively working with the DFA and our consulates across the US to stay updated on the situation,” Cacdac stated in an ABS-CBN News report.
While there are no immediate repatriation cases, Cacdac emphasized that the DMW has contingency measures in place, including an action fund and a command center to assist affected overseas Filipino workers if necessary.
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez estimated that around 350,000 Filipinos are living illegally in the US.
US President Donald Trump, in his second term, has reinforced policies aimed at curbing illegal migration, vowing to deport millions of undocumented individuals. Romualdez acknowledged that undocumented Filipinos with criminal records are at a higher risk of deportation under these policies.
