Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippines runs the risk of joining the list of countries whose nationals will be banned from entering the United States if ISIS-linked groups in the country expand, a special envoy said Thursday.
Special envoy to the U.S. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said ISIS activity in the Philippines is “a serious concern for all of us.”
“If we do have those elements in our country today, if it expands, obviously it’s a cause for concern for the United States,” Romualdez told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“Because that’s exactly what this policy is — to ban those that are involved in terrorist activities. And that will affect, definitely, our situation as far as being on the list of so-called terrorist countries (is concerned),” he added.
The U.S. tightened its borders after President Donald Trump last week imposed a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries: Libya, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen. The ban left many stranded in transit, including those with legal documents.
The government on Monday said residents in the south are being recruited into a Maute terror group seeking to establish the “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)” terrorist group in Southeast Asia.
“ISIS is recruiting everybody,” said Duterte. “The ISIS, sabi nga nila [they say], come hell or high water, they will establish the caliphate. That’s a Muslim kingdom comprising of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines,” the President added.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana added that they were also after Isnilon Hapilon, whom Duterte said was “already given the blessing to be the leader (of) ISIS” in the Philippines.
Duterte also declared an all-out war against terror groups linked with ISIS in Lanao del Sur on Monday. Lorenzana said Hapilon and around 40 followers from Basilan were in Lanao “with the intention of organizing the yung ISIS connected group.”
Related: Duterte orders all out war vs. Lanao del Sur terror groups
Romualdez also echoed U.S. Senator John McCain’s sentiment that Trump’s new immigration policy might be used as propaganda for ISIS recruitment.
“This is something that the current administration in the country should be worried about because it will affect a lot of things; not only the immigration ban in the United States, but I think it will affect our way of life,” said Romualdez.
“This immigration policy… is like a good propaganda for ISIS for them to recruit more people,” he added.
The Philippines is one of the 12 countries listed as a “terrorist safe haven, in a report by the U.S. State Department last year.
However, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said Filipinos are still welcome in the United States.
“(Trump) said very clearly first priority is to protect American lives and American citizens, and so he wants to conduct a review on some of the processes by which people are traveling to the United States,” Toner said.
“Now the Philippines was not among those countries that was labelled of concern, so I would say that Filipinos… by all means, we welcome them to the United States,” he added.
Tighter security has also given rise to the fear of deportation, especially as Duterte previously stated he would “not lift a finger” to help illegal immigrants.
Pack up and come home
Romualdez said the American Homeland Security identified 310,000 illegal Filipino immigrants in the U.S. but the number could be higher.
An estimated four million Filipinos are living in the U.S. Romualdez said that of this number, 800,000 could be illegals.
For now, green card holders and permanent residents have nothing to worry about, he assured.
But his advice to undocumented Filipinos: “Pack up and come home.”
“(With) these new policies that are coming in right now, I think that if you want to have peace of mind, it’s best for you to come back here,” Romualdez said.
He added it will be more difficult for illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. and find jobs as employers will have to require papers and legal identification from applicants.
Romualdez said Filipino-American lawyers could extend help to immigrants appealing their cases.
The special envoy said those who voluntarily leave prior to deportation will have better chances of returning to the U.S. in the future.
Ambassador to the U.S.
Romualdez was offered the position of ambassador to the U.S., but turned it down after discovering he had an eye problem that prevented him from traveling.
He hopes that the new ambassador will be appointed soon so he can begin “moving around with the new administration.”
Three names are already being considered for the post.
