Anticipating the Trump immigration policy

Over the past week, one of the main topics of discussion not only here in Washington, DC but in many parts of the globe is the immigration policy of president-elect Trump. Many of our media friends from the Philippines asked us how it will affect many undocumented Filipino immigrants in the United States.

A report published by the Pew Research Center estimates that the number of illegals in the US has grown to 11 million in 2022, although these numbers “do not reflect events since mid-2022” as the unauthorized immigrant population “has likely grown over the past two years based on several alternative data sources.”

Based on “Agenda 47” that outlines the policy plans of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States plus his pronouncements, there will be mass deportation of illegal immigrants using federal law enforcement agencies and the military.

Undocumented immigrants will not receive benefits like public housing and shelter, food stamps, health care and welfare checks. The southern border will be closed to asylum seekers, while the “catch-and-release” practice of releasing migrants while they await immigration hearings will be suspended.

Birthright citizenship (acquiring citizenship by being born in the US) for children of undocumented immigrants will be denied. Tourists who give birth in the US will no longer be allowed to extend their visa – and for the baby to acquire citizenship, one of the parents must be a US citizen or resident.

Federal funding will also be blocked for sanctuary cities and counties that allow undocumented immigrants to stay. Under Title 42, which is a public health rule that began in 2020 during the pandemic, border authorities can send back migrants, including children, to their countries of origin. Experts also say that expedited removals could be conducted, which means US Customs and Border Protection officials could swiftly deport illegals.

But while the president-elect intends to crank up on mass deportation, he also says he wants people to “come in” to the US, but legally. Clearly, the top priority for deportation are those who pose a threat to national security and have criminal records.

There’s no doubt, however, that the Trump administration will be strict in its immigration policy, judging from the appointment of former Immigration and Customs Enforcement deputy director Thomas Homan as the “border czar.” Homan, a former police officer who became a US Border Patrol agent, said workplace raids will be conducted to address labor and sex trafficking problems.

We certainly understand the worry and anxiety that our kababayans feel for friends and relatives who may be illegally staying in the US. Which is why we have called all the heads of post at our Philippine consulates in the United States – from Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco as well as Guam – for a meeting in Washington, DC during the first week of December to discuss prospects under the incoming administration and obviously, number one on the agenda will be the immigration policy of president-elect Trump.

DFA Undersecretary Ed de Vega will be meeting our consuls in Los Angeles end of November to see how DFA’s Assistance to Nationals can be of help to Filipinos facing potential deportation after ascertaining what the new immigration policy will be and the guidelines on its implementation.

Former National Border Patrol Council president Brandon Judd said it’s not as if immigration authorities will just round up people and haul them off – those facing deportation can go before the courts which will hear their cases and rule whether they should be deported or not. We hope to consult an immigration lawyer to help us navigate through this policy.

Long before I even came to Washington, I have been writing about the potential ramifications of evolving US immigration laws and its impact on Filipinos overstaying in the United States. I knew of so many people who waited until they got deported – completely taking away all chances of ever legally returning to the US.

Today, more and more countries are facing problems on illegal immigration. There are a number of countries that are now coming out with stricter immigration policies and tightening their borders. Canada, considered to be one of the most immigrant-friendly nations, has reversed its policy due to growing concerns about immigrants contributing to problems related to housing, health care and other social services.

Our country is also facing serious problems with illegals coming into the country, which is overwhelming Immigration authorities. An alarming situation is the case of Chinese national Alice Guo using a fake birth certificate and getting elected to public office.

After my initial media interviews regarding undocumented Filipinos in the US, there were a few clueless critics who have absolutely no idea of potential problems faced by victims of human trafficking and those living with the “sword of fear” hanging over their heads. One example is the case of Fedelina Lugasan who I met at our consulate in Los Angeles. She was rescued after being enslaved by her employers.

Nanay Fedelina was recruited from Leyte to work as a domestic helper when she was a teenager and eventually brought to the US – enslaved by a Filipino family for 65 years, unpaid and abused, sleeping on the floor with just a thin blanket. Her plight was discovered in 2018 when she collapsed due to hunger while taking care of her employer in the hospital, prompting the FBI’s Victim Protection Unit to investigate and rescue her.

It was a heartbreaking story that is forever etched in my mind. I most certainly do not ever want that to happen to anyone, much less Filipinos.

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