Following strengthened efforts to expedite deportation of illegal aliens arrested for violation of Philippine immigration laws, nearly 1,500 foreign nationals were deported during the first half of the year by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Citing a report from the BI’s deportation and implementation unit (DIU), BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that in the first half of 2025, the agency was able to deport a total of 1,422 foreign nationals found to have various immigration violations.
The list was topped by Chinese nationals with 957 deported, followed by 231 Vietnamese, 41 South Koreans, 41 Malaysians, and 37 Burmese.
Sandoval said majority of the deportations were foreigners found to be illegally working in POGO companies in the country despite the ban. The number of deported foreign nationals is double than the recorded 717 deportees during the same period last year.
Earlier on, the BI reported improvements in deportation protocols, including fast-tracking clearances in partnership with the National Bureau of Investigation, immediate resolution of cases suspected to be filed under the ‘demanda me’ scheme, regular coordination with embassies for swift issuance of travel documents, and opening of a new holding facility for arrested aliens.
