Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, March 7 called on the government to assist Filipinos who are at risk of being deported by the United States government following the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants. 

Hontiveros made the call following a meeting with leaders of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), who shared the plight of Filipinos at risk of being forcibly removed from the US. 

Hontiveros reminded that the Philippine government has an obligation to protect all Filipino nationals, wherever they are in the world. 

“Kung may mga Pilipinong tuluyang ma-deport pabalik ng Pilipinas, dapat handa narin ang gobyerno para tanggapin at suportahan sila (if there are Filipinos who would be deported back to the Philippines, the government should also be ready to receive and support them),” Hontiveros said. 

The senator also urged the Philippine Embassy in the US and its consulates to allot an appropriate budget in preparation for the possible repatriation of Filipinos with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). 

During the meeting, APALA highlighted that Filipinos in the US, particularly those without proper documentation, could still avail of remedies under US immigration laws.

But their lack of access to appropriate legal assistance may result to being deported without due process, the lawmaker pointed out.

“Huwag nating hayaang maabuso ang mga kababayan natin sa Amerika (Let's not allow our compatriots in America to be abused),” she said.

“Their rights under US immigration laws should be made known to them and the Philippine government should help them exercise those rights,” she further appealed. 

Hontiveros pointed out it is the constitutional duty of the Philippines to safeguard the welfare and wellbeing of overseas Filipinos. 

“Sa panahong talamak ang mga pagbabanta at pananakot sa mga foreigner sa Amerika, sana huwag talikuran ng ating gobyerno ang ating kapwa Pilipino (At a time when threats and intimidation against foreigners in America are rampant, I hope our government does not abandon our fellow Filipinos),” she stressed.