A Filipino detainee in the United States will soon be sent back to the Philippines after the U.S. Immigration Court rejected his bid to halt removal, according to an announcement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The DFA identified the individual as Greggy Sorio, also known among Filipino residents in Washington as Kuya G. U.S. authorities issued the deportation order while Sorio remained in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He previously alleged that he was neglected during detention and had been suffering from ulcerative colitis. The DFA did not specify when he will be flown home.
“The Department respects this decision and recognizes the sovereign right of the United States to determine who may be allowed to remain in its territory,” the DFA said, adding that assistance will be provided once Sorio arrives in the Philippines.
The agency noted that it earlier used resources from its Legal Assistance Fund to support Sorio’s legal representation. It also said consular officials were alerted to his health concerns, leading them to coordinate with authorities to secure medical evaluations and treatment.
According to the DFA, the consulate received updates from Sorio and ICE officials regarding his hospitalization, conducted welfare checks, and continued monitoring his follow-up consultations and medication. Filipino diplomats based in San Francisco had sought humanitarian consideration in the hope that Sorio could recover from his illness before being removed from the country.
However, the DFA said ICE Health Services Corps had declared Sorio “medically cleared for deportation.”
“The Department reiterates its commitment to provide assistance to Philippine nationals abroad, through its Foreign Service Posts, in accordance with relevant conventions and international agreements, and with due respect for applicable local laws and regulations,” the DFA stated.
In January, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order titled Protecting the American People from Invasion, asserting that the previous administration oversaw an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration in recent years. He said millions of individuals entered the United States or were allowed in despite longstanding federal laws, claiming that some unlawfully present migrants pose threats to national security and public safety, and that others have cost American taxpayers billions of dollars.
“Many of these aliens unlawfully present within the United States present significant threats to national security and public safety, committing vile and heinous acts against innocent Americans. Others are engaged in hostile activities, including espionage, economic espionage, and preparations for terror-related activities. Many have abused the generosity of the American people, and their presence in the United States has cost taxpayers billions of dollars at the Federal, State, and local levels,” the order read.
Trump said the enforcement of immigration laws is essential to protecting national security and emphasized that the federal government must safeguard the safety and economic well-being of Americans.
