Washington D.C. – The Philippine Embassy in the U.S. is actively engaging with U.S. immigration authorities to clarify a plan to transfer detained migrants, including Filipinos, to other countries, such as Libya, according to Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez.
The embassy is seeking information on the status of Filipinos in U.S. custody and the number facing deportation orders.
“We have already informed the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary and ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) that the Philippine government will accept any and all Filipinos into the Philippines regardless of their status,” Romualdez told GMA News Online. He added that the embassy has offered full cooperation to facilitate the repatriation of detained Filipinos.
This follows a Wednesday ruling by a federal judge temporarily halting the transfer of migrants to Libya or any other country. The plan had previously drawn criticism from Senate President Francis Escudero, who called it “cruel,” and the interim Libyan government, which denied it would accept deported migrants without its consent.
Ambassador Romualdez emphasized the embassy’s willingness to assist Filipinos facing immigration issues, but stressed that such assistance must remain within legal parameters.
He reiterated his advice to undocumented or overstaying Filipinos to voluntarily return to the Philippines if legal options for remaining in the U.S. are exhausted. “But as I have repeatedly stressed on many occasions, the best and most practical advice we can give to undocumented Filipinos is to seek a legal path for their peace of mind,” the ambassador advised.
The ongoing dialogue between the Philippine Embassy and U.S. authorities underscores the importance of addressing the concerns of affected Filipinos while upholding legal processes.
