PH AMBASSADOR WARNS ILLEGAL FILIPINO TO LEAVE U.S. AFTER TRUMP WIN

Filipinos illegally staying in the United States are being urged to voluntarily leave the country instead of waiting to be deported (Photo courtesy of Ted Shaffrey/AP)

Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel "Babes" Romualdez has called on Filipinos illegally staying in the US and urged them voluntarily leave instead of waiting to be deported before US President-elect Donald Trump assumes office next year.

United States President-elect Donald Trump is making a historic comeback to the White House after promising to tighten borders and implement mass deportation of illegal immigrants. Romualdez advised the 250,000 to 300,000 illegal Filipino immigrants in the country to leave voluntarily to avoid being blacklisted.

Romualdez stressed that Trump has "won on the basis that he will deport all immigrants in the United States." He said those who are still in America without "any kind of status" should voluntarily return to the Philippines or start working on their documents.

"My advice to many of our fellowmen who actually are still here but cannot get any kind of status. My advice is for them not to wait to be deported. Because I can see that the administration of President Trump is really going to be very strict with the immigration policy that he intends to put in place because that is the promise he made to the American public," he stressed.

Once deported, Romualdez said there is 99% possibility that they cannot come back to the US. "You can never come back to the United States. At least, if you leave, there is always the opportunity or a chance that you’ll be able to file."

The ambassador earlier said that most of the 200,000 undocumented Filipinos in the United States have already filed petitions for permanent residency status. Trump has openly declared his plan to implement the largest deportation of migrants in US history.

Nine out of every 10 undocumented Filipinos hiding in the US “will be discovered in some form or another,” also considering how easy it is now for anyone to report illegal immigrants to American immigration authorities.

Romualdez clarified that the "only assistance" that they can provide is "to give them advice." 

In his victory speech, Trump reiterated that he would close borders in the US and would impose stricter laws against illegal aliens. “We gonna have to seal up those borders, we are gonna have to let people come into our country. We want people to come back in, but they have to come in legally. We are gonna start by putting America first.”

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 

Be part of ImHenyo community!

Get featured by sharing your stories, news, and comments

Email us at [email protected]