THE Department of Foreign Affairs is adopting a wait-and-see attitude on immigration policies of President-elect Donald Trump who will take office in January next year.
Even with Trump’s hardline approach to immigration, the Filipino community in the US will continue to thrive, said DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega.
He also said the embassy and the consulate have yet to receive a request for assistance from any Filipino wanting to return to Manila.
“We do not want to sound alarmist because whoever the president in the US or here is, we enjoy a good relation. So, let us wait for January 20,” he said in Filipino at the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” forum.
Despite his optimistic note, De Vega advised Filipinos in the US to steer clear of any trouble.
“Always keep in touch with our embassy and consulates. Always be law abiding. Even if you do not have the papers, as long as you follow the law, and you are not engaged in any crime such as smuggling, robbery or drug trafficking, most likely you will not be deported,” he said.
De Vega said the embassy in Washington D.C. headed by Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez and the consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Honolulu and Guam are discussing legal moves to expedite the stay of undocumented Filipinos in the US.
He allayed concerns that the embassy and consulates will turn over undocumented Filipinos to US authorities. He explained it is not the job of Philippine officials to turn over undocumented Filipinos, adding they are focused on helping them legalize their stay.
For those who want to leave the US before Trump takes over the White House in January, De Vega said it would be better for them to return to Manila and not wait to be deported.
Earlier, the consulate in New York said the DFA has allotted funds to cover plane tickets for undocumented Filipinos who want to go back to Manila.
There are over 4.6 million Filipinos in the US, according to records.
Many Filipinos and Filipino Americans are living in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois and Washington DC.
American authorities have said there are at least 300,000 Filipinos illegally staying in the US, making them the fifth largest group of undocumented immigrants.
