The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) expresses its appreciation of the proactive action of the Marcos Administration, especially through our Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez who recently explored avenues for free legal assistance for undocumented Filipino immigrants with the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF).
In addition, the country’s largest labor center TUCP, calls for the establishment of an inter-agency body to synchronize efforts among government agencies, civil society, and Filipino organizations in the United States, to assist the hundreds of thousands of undocumented Filipinos in the United States who may face heightened risk of deportation under the second Trump Administration.
“With nearly half a million undocumented Filipinos facing the potential threat of what could be the largest mass deportation in American history, the TUCP looks forward to working together with the Marcos Administration to consolidate efforts with urgency and dispatch to ensure the just transition of our kababayan either as legal immigrants continuing to pursue the American Dream or as returning Filipinos with adequate viable opportunities back home to unlock the promise of ‘Bagong Pilipinas’,” stated TUCP Vice President Luis Corral.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) estimates 370,000 undocumented Filipino immigrants in the United States. Tom Homan, the incoming border czar under President Trump, said that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “will start arresting public safety threats and national security threats on day one,” raising concerns about large-scale extensive operations to detain and deport undocumented immigrants beginning President Trump’s inauguration day on 20 January 2025.
“We strongly advocate for a unified coherent response, ranging from legal assistance to reintegration services, not only to enable the Government to effectively oversee these initiatives but also to empower our kababayan with a one-stop shop for accessible and comprehensive services. We stand ready to partner with the Marcos Administration’s inter-agency body to protect and promote the welfare of our kababayan in the United States spearheaded by an intensified information and education campaign to reach out to them about their rights, available resources, and assistance, especially accessible, affordable—ideally free—legal assistance,” explained Corral.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac affirmed that the DMW, in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), is ready to offer upskilling, job-matching, and reintegration programs for those affected. The TUCP Party-list spearheaded the enactment of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Act which mandated the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive full-cycle national reintegration program for both undocumented and undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“We recognize the need to address the root causes that drive many Filipinos to take riskier illegal migration pathways primarily due to the scarcity of stable well-paying jobs to provide for their families. Thus, we are prepared to accelerate efforts to reintegrate returning kababayan not just through employment facilitation but also through public employment programs led by the swift full implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act in synergy with DOLE and DTI. Our returning Filipinos, especially the undocumented who braved foreign land for years or even decades of uncertainty, deserve a green lane to secure new, permanent, and decent employment here in our homeland they rightfully call their own,” underscored Corral.
