Alan Cayetano renews call for gov't support for Filipinos affected by US immigration crackdown
At A Glance
- Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has renewed his call for the government to pursue diplomatic solutions to support Filipinos affected by the United States' immigration crackdown under the Trump administration's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has renewed his call for the government to pursue diplomatic solutions to support Filipinos affected by the United States’ immigration crackdown under the Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies.
Cayetano reminded the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that “relationships matter” and so a solution should be underway for fellow Filipinos in the US.
“We (the US and Philippines) have permanent interests. Our relationships matter. We must always have a solution,” Cayetano said, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy in addressing their concerns.
During the deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the DFA on Tuesday, October 14, the agency reported ongoing efforts to help an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 Filipinos in the US who are facing deportation risks.
The Senate Finance Subcommittee panel also discussed the assistance being given to detained seafarers despite having complete and valid documentation, the coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure legal and repatriation assistance, and the potential impacts of the new H-1B visa fee, noting that at least 5,248 Filipinos have applied for the visa in 2024.
Cayetano previously appealed to newly appointed DFA Secretary Theresa Lazaro, whom he called a “very able career diplomat,” to leverage her experience and international relationships in managing complex foreign policy issues, particularly the concerns of Filipinos in the US.
“Our dear incoming Secretary has a lot of relationships. We will count on you… Because in diplomacy, unlike politics, it’s not a zero sum game,” he had said.