US immigration policies not tackled during meeting with Trump
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said the issue of the United States' immigration policies was not discussed during his meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
At a press conference with the Philippine media delegation, Marcos said that there had been no significant difference in the US immigration policies since Trump began his second term in January.
Trump has vowed tough enforcement of immigration law and mass deportation of illegal migrants in the US.
''It's not been raised; it was not, not in this forum, but of course we are well aware of the situation,'' Marcos said.
''I think in our estimation with what the United States is doing now... It's not anything different [from] what they were doing before. Ito 'yung mga may record, mga wanted, convicted, lalong-lalo na kung sila ay illegal, TNT sila, 'yun ang mga pinapauwi nila (these are those with criminal records, wanted, convicted, and illegally staying),'' he added.
The Philippine Embassy is providing assistance to undocumented Filipinos through immigration lawyers who offer legal advice and outline available options for them.
However, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez has advised illegal immigrants—those who entered the US on tourist visas and then overstayed—to consider voluntarily leaving the country rather than waiting for the possibility of deportation.
Recently, a Filipino was among at least 11 illegal aliens convicted of various crimes who were arrested during separate operations by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the individual as a 29-year-old illegal alien from the Philippines. He was arrested in Middlesex, Massachusetts. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
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