Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A group of Filipinos based in the United States urged President Rodrigo Duterte to help them even as he said he will not interfere with U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration ban.
Trump has signed an executive order banning travelers from seven Muslim-dominated countries to enter the U.S.
Also read: Trump’s immigration ban sends shockwaves
As Trump supported the country’s war on drugs, President Duterte said he will reciprocate the gesture.
The President said he will not help Filipinos who are illegally staying in the U.S.
“So ‘yung mga Pilipinong nandoon [To the Filipinos there], you better be on the right track. If you are not allowed to stay there, you are overstaying, get out. Because if you are caught and you get deported, I will not lift a finger. You know that it is a violation of the law,” Duterte said in a media briefing held Monday.
Also read: Duterte tells Filipinos to follow rules amidst U.S. immigration ban on 7 countries
National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) Secretary General AV David urged the Philippine government to assist citizens abroad, whether their status is legal or not.
“We would like to remind President Duterte that Filipino immigrants abroad, regardless of immigration status, must be served by the Philippine government,” she said, “He knows full well that Filipinos are forced to leave because of unemployment and poverty.”
Special Envoy to the U.S. Babe Romualdez said the stricter immigration policy may lead to the deportation of over 300,000 Filipinos.
“I received that information from our friends in Washington, D.C. that there’s a list from I think the homeland security that there are about 310,000 Filipinos up for deportation,” Romualdez told CNN Philippines, referring to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Also read: Trump’s immigration crackdown could see deportation of some 300,000 Filipinos
Duterte said he is willing to welcome Muslim immigrants to the Philippines, prompting NAFCON to remind him of the hardships Filipinos are experiencing abroad.
“While we welcome Duterte’s pronouncements that he will consider offering sanctuary to refugees affected by Trump’s Muslim ban, we challenge him to see the same humanity in Filipinos abroad. Many are already sharing heightened experiences of racial discrimination, fear of deportation, and lack of support,” David said.
The organization said U.S. consulates should also provide free legal services and trainings to Filipinos abroad.
“The Philippine government must provide timely and sufficient services to Filipinos abroad, and ultimately create conditions in the Philippines such as ending contractualization and creating industries that provide jobs so that Filipinos will not need to leave the country to feed their families,” David said.
