Over 20 Filipinos Deported from the US as Immigration Laws Tighten

MANILA, Philippines – The recent deportation of over 20 Filipinos accused of criminal activities from the United States has stirred discussions about tightening immigration laws. Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Romualdez, provided an update on this development during an interview with DZBB on Sunday, January 26.

According to Romualdez, the deported Filipinos were involved in some criminal activities, though not classified as very serious crimes. He mentioned that around 24 individuals were deported.

Increased Deportation Efforts

This action aligns with a January 20 statement made by Ambassador Romualdez, citing the US government’s plans to prioritize the deportation of immigrants with criminal records and those already processed, amounting to approximately 1.3 million individuals.

The recent re-election of US President Donald Trump played a significant role in this context. Trump campaigned on stricter laws against illegal immigrants and even promised a mass deportation of illegal aliens with the help of the military.

Notable Statistics

Data from the US Department of Homeland Security in 2022 revealed that there are 350,000 illegal immigrants from the Philippines. Among countries with the highest number of legal immigrants, the Philippines ranks fifth, with Honduras following closely with 560,000.

In response to these developments, the Department of Migrant Workers announced plans in November of the previous year to assist more than 300,000 undocumented Filipinos in the US who may face deportation.

Foreign Aid Freeze and Relations

While these developments may raise concerns for bilateral relations, Ambassador Romualdez assured that the Philippines has nothing to worry about potential suspension of foreign aid by the US. He stated during the interview that the US government is reviewing all foreign aid to other countries as a result of current political circumstances.

US Foreign Aid Policies

On January 25, the US State Department issued a freeze order on foreign aid following Trump’s directive to pause and assess whether aid allocations align with the government’s foreign policy goals. Notably, military financing to Israel and Egypt was exempt from this freeze.

Earlier in July, the United States announced a $500 million military funding package for the Philippines to bolster its external defense efforts in response to China’s increasing presence in the West Philippine Sea.

Conclusion

The deportation of 24 Filipinos accused of minor crimes marks a continuation of the US’s stringent immigration policies. With the re-election of President Trump, the enforcement of these policies is expected to intensify.

While the impending foreign aid freeze may cause apprehension, the US government’s actions appear to be part of a broader review of international aid rather than a direct challenge to bilateral relations.