Living in America

Hundreds of undocumented immigrants in at least four US states this week were arrested in what authorities on Friday called routine enforcement operations. Such immigration sweeps sparked concern among immigration advocates and families, coming on the heels of President Donald J. Trump's executive order that bars refugees and citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. That order is currently on hold. The enforcement actions took place in Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles…

A Filipino-American labor advocate group has slammed the war on drugs by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Associate Director Lolita Lledo of the Los Angeles-based Pilipino Workers Center said her group is unhappy over the killings in the Philippines brought about by the administration's campaign against illegal drugs. "Hindi ako natutuwa na pinapatay mga drug addicts. Dapat tinutulungan. Ang tanong namin, bakit puro mahihirap ang namamatay? Wala bang drug addict na mayaman?" Lledo said. Lledo…

Some Filipino groups which claimed supporting President Rodrigo Duterte in the last elections have expressed dismay over the latter's pronouncement that he will not help undocumented Filipinos in the United States as illegal immigrants have become target of US President Donald J Trump's new policies. In a report by ABS-CBN News, Pilipino Workers Center, one of the largest Filipino organizations in the US, said it feels betrayed that Duterte was turning his back on Filipino immigrants in the US who have significantly…

An immigration lawyer has urged all travelers, including Filipinos, bound for the United States to be prepared in their journey in case US President Donald J. Trump decides to expand coverage of his executive order banning citizens from certain countries from entering US territory. Last week, Trump signed executive orders that put a travel ban on those traveling to the US from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, and banning refugees from entering the US for 120 days. Under the order, entry of Syrian refugees…

A special envoy from the Philippines to the United States has advised Filipinos illegally staying in the United States to consider leaving the US soon as more than 300,000 undocumented Filipinos in the country may face deportation. In a report by CNN Philippines, special envoy to the U.S. Babe Romualdez said Tuesday that he received information from contacts at Washington, D.C. that about 310,000 Filipinos in the country are up for deportation. "These are mostly undocumented Filipinos that they are able to identify,"…

President Rodrigo Duterte has no plans of helping out undocumented Filipinos who might end up getting deported under the new policies of American President Donald J. Trump. Speaking in a news conference early Monday, Duterte said said he "will not lift a finger" on the matter out of respect for Trump. "Trump said I will not interfere in the affairs," Duterte said, adding that he would reciprocate since the American president had professed support for his drug campaign. The President said he understands the American…

Filipinos based in Atlanta are turning to Facebook to widen their reach in hopes of locating a Filipina who has gone missing for several weeks. Willy Blanco of the Filipino-American Association of Atlanta told WSB-TV 2 on Monday that they have asked members of the 'Atlanta Pinoy' Facebook group's to share any information that may lead to Cecilia Bustamante, who reportedly went missing on October 28. "Just reach out to all of your friends out there. People in social media groups, anybody who may know anything about her.…

A Filipino bishop in the Philippines has urged his countrymen living illegally in the United States to return home, before President-elect Donald J. Trump makes good on his promise to take action against them. Echoing the same stance with Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said, "To protect themselves and not to put their future in danger, we advise them not to wait to be branded undocumented and be deported." According to a report by Catholic Culture, Bishop Santos said…

A lawmarker has backed calls for parity in travel conditions between the Philippines and the United States through imposition of visas for Americans coming to the Philippines or removal of the existing visa requirements. “There are two ways we can achieve parity. Either we obligate Americans traveling to Manila to first secure a Philippine visa, or the US removes the requirement for Filipinos to get hold of a US visa before they can travel to America,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said, adding that requiring US…

"Philippine separation from the United States - economically and militarily" does not mean severance of relationship or terminating the special bond between our two nations, which remains firm notwithstanding the formidable but surmountable challenges that we face in making liberating change happen. Indeed, breaking away from our closest friend, only military ally and strategic partner would not be in our best national interest as declared unmistakably by President Duterte upon his arrival in Davao City from his…