Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez has announced plans to convene a meeting with Philippine consuls across the United States in December to discuss possible support for undocumented Filipinos facing potential deportation under the upcoming Trump administration. The meeting aims to prepare for a potential policy shift that could impact hundreds of thousands of Filipinos living in the US without legal status.
The planning session, set to be held in Washington, D.C., will bring together consuls from seven locations, including Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. “All the consulates here in America – we’ll be gathering…to discuss how we’ll go about it,” Romualdez shared in an interview on November 11.
Romualdez highlighted the priority of protecting Filipino nationals, noting that many became undocumented after overstaying legally obtained visas. Estimates suggest 200,000 to 300,000 Filipinos could be impacted by heightened deportation efforts.
He advised those without a pathway to legal status to consider voluntarily returning to the Philippines to avoid deportation proceedings, cautioning others to seek assistance only from legitimate lawyers. “This helps them avoid the deportation process,” Romualdez explained, warning against advisers making false promises.
The ambassador also awaits directives from the Department of Migrant Workers and Malacañang for further guidance. Senate President Chiz Escudero expressed concern, emphasizing the potential logistical strain if even a small portion of the estimated undocumented Filipinos are deported. “If Trump pushes through with his pronouncement…how many of the estimated 300,000 vulnerable Filipinos will be in the first wave of expulsion?” Escudero asked.
President Trump, recently elected on November 6, has committed to enforcing stricter immigration policies, a major campaign platform focused on reducing undocumented migrants in the US.
