US deports 24 Pinoys linked to minor crimes – envoy

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-four Filipinos allegedly involved in illegal activities were deported from the United States as the Trump administration began the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

In an interview on dzBB yesterday, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said the Filipinos deported were involved in some criminal activities but not very serious crimes.

“Our count was something like 24. They have already been deported because they were … they have, not very serious crimes, but they were involved in some criminal activities,” Romualdez said.

He advised Filipinos in the US without any kind of status not to wait to be deported and to voluntarily return to the Philippines or start working on their documents.

“There’s a small hope to those already here, those already working and paying taxes. They look like they have a good chance to get legal status, especially if their employers sponsor them,” he added.

The Philippine embassy and consulates general in the US announced they will intensify their engagements with US officials to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipinos amid immigration policy changes under President Donald Trump.

The embassy and consulates gave assurance that they “will continue to provide consular services to all Filipino nationals regardless of their immigration status.”

The embassy said all Filipinos in the US have rights, regardless of their immigration status.

“The Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States are here to ensure that Filipinos are informed, safe, and supported. Kabayan, you deserve to know your rights,” the embassy said in a post on Facebook.

The White House said hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals in the US were arrested Thursday and hundreds of others were flown out of the country on military aircraft.

Trump repeatedly vowed to carry out the largest deportation effort in American history.