Will Trump deport the thousands of Filipinos living in the US illegally?

Immigration was a key issue for many US voters, including Filipino-Americans, reflecting a growing conservatism among the community

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A group of migrants are apprehended by border officers after crossing into the US earlier this year. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00am, 12 Nov 2024Updated: 1:10pm, 15 Nov 2024

Donald Trump’s hardline stance on immigration has energised support among some Filipino-American voters while provoking anxiety among others, experts say, amid fears about the mass deportation of undocumented Filipinos in the United States under his new administration.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez highlighted the divide among Filipino-Americans in a radio interview held before last week’s presidential election. While many had expressed support for Trump due to their economic struggles and his tough stance on illegal immigration, concerns about deportation loomed large.

Following Trump’s victory, Romualdez urged undocumented Filipinos to address their status promptly or consider leaving the US voluntarily, anticipating stricter enforcement under the new administration.

“My advice is for them [is do] not wait to be deported,” he told reporters on Friday during a virtual briefing with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Romualdez stressed that Trump’s win was largely based on his promise to “deport all” undocumented immigrants in the US.

Our countrymen have been arriving here in America in droves. Trump won because that is his main issue

Jose Manuel Romualdez, Philippine ambassador to the US

During his campaign, Trump vowed to carry out the largest operation in US history to remove millions of undocumented immigrants, proposing to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for expedited deportations – with the military working alongside local law enforcement.