by BAYAN-USA Staff
The Philippine Embassy and Philippine consulates across the United States found themselves receiving call after call all through December 2, from community members demanding the Philippine government ensure protections for undocumented Filipinos.
These calls were part of a phone barrage action for the Defend Migrant Workers campaign, organized by Filipino grassroots formations, BAYAN-USA and Migrante-USA.
From Presdient-elect Donald Trump’s previous violent rhetoric and actions targeting immigrants and Project 2025’s proposals, fears about deportation are at an all-time high.
Alex*, a community organizer of the Defend Migrants Campaign, shared:
“During the first Trump presidency, I remember being confused as to why people like me were labeled as criminals, scared even to ask for help, and unsure of what to do. Those same feelings are coming up for me, my family, and my fellow Filipino undocumented migrants, when our own government tells us to self-deport or won’t even meet with us.
All I’ve done here is go to school and go to work, my mom just works, and we pay taxes. What is it about us undocumented migrants that make us the cause of crisis, when we are contributing the same as U.S. citizens without even getting return benefits from our labor? Without having protections? We take the hard jobs people don’t want because we have to—we left the Philippines not because we wanted to have it easy but because we needed to survive, even if it means being at risk in an unfamiliar country.”
Indeed, the Philippine government and its figureheads in the U.S. have not addressed the community’s worries and understated the severity of the situation for hundreds of thousands.
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez’ pronouncements for undocumented Filipinos to “follow the rules” and self-deport have led to mass confusion and anxiety when lawyers and community organizations have cautioned communities not to make quick decisions before seeking legal advice.
He also remarked that the 200,000 undocumented Filipinos who may be deported is “not a very large number,” and likely underestimated the number of undocumented Filipinos which could be as many as 1 million.
The Ambassador spoke of having a special meeting with all 7 Philippine consuls generals in the U.S. to discuss ways of supporting overseas Filipinos.
However, no details have been shared about when this meeting will happen nor how they are gathering community input from those most vulnerable.
Callers in December 2 demanded consular officials disclose meeting details and meet the demands of the community in defense of Filipino migrants.
They navigated difficult and inaccessible communications systems to get messages across, with calls getting rerouted from office to office.
When offices did respond, answers were far from what community members were hoping. Many staff were unaware of the meeting; others did not welcome callers’ concerns and cut them off.
Oliver Flores of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office shared to callers that the meeting would only be between the Ambassador and consular officials, and details would only be released after it concludes.
The question left on community members’ minds: Why do the offices refuse to be transparent and hear community input, especially when it comes to such a serious, intense, and time-sensitive issue such as protecting Filipino migrants’ rights, which should be the responsibility of the Philippine Embassy and consulates?
Abandoned without answers from the offices, community members are persisting in the fight despite the frustrating lack of proper response.
Following the phone barrage action, more than 100 Filipino workers and allies from across the country joined an online “Post-US Elections Talakayan (Discussion)” hosted by Migrante-USA.
Jan, an organizer of the phone barrage, explained to participants the Philippine consular staff’s lack of understanding of and sensitivity to the situation of Filipino migrants in the U.S.
In response to concerns that deported Filipinos would struggle to find livelihood in the Philippines to support themselves and their families, one staff member stated that Filipinos should “just work hard to find jobs.”
Jan noted: “We wouldn’t be in other countries if there were enough jobs in the Philippines.”
Throughout, participants shared the efforts in their communities to defend their fellow Filipinos facing situations such as trafficking, wage theft, and ICE detention.
Albert, a member of Migrante Seattle, stressed the need to unite as a community US-wide: “We must gather together all migrant Filipinos where we live and throughout the country to understand our situation, and to find the strength to fight. We shouldn’t give into fear.”
Participants strengthened their resolve to fight not just against the threat of mass deportation, but also against the poverty and joblessness that lead Filipinos to leave their homeland and families.
As the community anticipates the Philippine government plans, Filipinos in the US will not wait, and will take matters into their own hands to ensure their safety and rights are upheld.
Actions and meetings will continue for the Defend Migrants Campaign throughout this month leading up to International Migrants Day on December 18, Trump’s inauguration in January, and beyond.
*Alex’s name has been changed for privacy
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