Senators: Prepare for possible mass deportation of Pinoys from US

Senate building (File photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Senators on Tuesday urged concerned government agencies to create a comprehensive contingency plan to assist undocumented Filipinos in the United States if President-elect Donald Trump opts to implement a large-scale immigration crackdown.

In a statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the government should provide logistical support for eventual repatriation and help returning Filipinos find jobs or other means of livelihood.

“Madaling sabihin, pero mahirap gawin. Madaling sabihin na sana piliin na lang na umuwi ng mga undocumented nating kababayan na sa US kesa antayin pa nilang mai-deport (Easier said than done. It is easy to say and hope that our undocumented countrymen in US will choose to go home instead of waiting to be deported),” he said.

“Apektado rin ang mga pamilyang umaasa sa padala ng mga kababayan natin na walang legal na basehan ang paninirahan sa US sakali man na mapilitan silang umuwi ng bansa (Families relying on remittances from our countrymen who have no basis of staying in US will also be affected if ever they will be forced to return to the country),” Estrada noted.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos urged Filipinos in the US to stay calm and set aside some money to pay for a lawyer, find another job, and for the family.

She also urged her colleagues in Congress to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with all of the necessary funds to respond promptly and adequately to the impending deportation of more than 200,000 undocumented Filipinos in the US.

“The DFA must be adequately prepared to provide timely and effective assistance to our kababayans (countrymen) facing this crisis,” she said in a separate statement, citing allocations of at least PHP12.4 billion, and up to PHP27.286 billion to meet any surge in costs.

“Yet, the current allocation is only 5 to 10 percent of this requirement — a significant shortfall that must be addressed,” Marcos said.

Under both the 2025 National Expenditure Program and the 2025 General Appropriations Bill, the DFA is only allocated PHP1.259 billion for the item “Protection of the Rights and Promotion of Welfare of Overseas Filipinos” from which repatriation assistance is sourced.

As of September 30, 2024, the DFA has spent PHP139,162,310.72 to provide repatriation assistance to 1,020 Filipinos.

On the other hand, Senator Joel Villanueva said the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and DFA should ensure the protection of the welfare of Filipino migrants, “regardless of their status.”

Villanueva noted that DMW was allocated PHP1.3 billion for the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan or AKSYON Fund to provide legal, medical, financial, and other forms of assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

He also mentioned the PHP1.287 billion allocated to the Emergency Repatriation Fund.

“It is crucial that we establish a coordinated repatriation mechanism to facilitate a smooth transition for our fellow Filipinos,” Villanueva said, urging the concerned agencies to ensure effective full-cycle reintegration programs for returning migrants, tailored to their specific needs and backgrounds.