Two days to go before the US presidential elections

This Tuesday, November 8, 2016, Americans will go out to the polls to elect its 45th president. Starting with each party's primary nomination process in February 2016 and the candidates' campaigns way before that, this present cycle of presidential election has been a long, nasty, controversial, and, at times, downright dirty. With two more days to go, we shall soon see who will be next president of the United States of America. Will we see its first female president in Hillary R. Clinton? Or will it be the year of the "outsider," Donald J. Trump?

Without a doubt, the next president has a lot of issues to deal with the moment he or she assumes office. Domestically, the rising cost of healthcare, a sluggish economy, continued threats to peace and order, illegal immigration, rising unemployment, and other issues affecting ordinary Americans are all matters that need the full and immediate attention of the new president. In the international front, hard decisions have to be made on how the US deals with the terrorism rampaging in the Middle East, with Russia reasserting its relevance in the global arena and with China escalating its bullying against its neighbors in Asia. These and other major issues affecting the world today weigh heavily on the shoulders of a US president, whether he or she wants it or not.

I am very eager to see how the next US president deals with the present state of US-Philippine relations. As we all know, much has been said, awfully unsavory at times, by President Duterte against the United States of America. In terms of trade and commerce and military alliance between the two countries, what policies of the new administration towards the Philippines under either a Trump or a Clinton presidency would be implemented? Would the new US president support immigration reforms that would prove to be beneficial to the undocumented Filipinos presently living in the US? Conversely, would President Duterte change his views and attitudes towards the United States and its new president? Would he still suspend the military exercises of US forces in the Philippines? What about the realignment with China and Russia, would he still pursue such idea under a Trump or Clinton presidency? Curiously, would he curse Donald Trump like he did with Obama or would he spew sexist language towards Hillary?

Whoever the next President of the United States is, would not only be a change of leadership in America but also an opportunity of discernment for the Philippines and to a large extent, President Duterte on how to clarify what seem to be presently a confused state of relations between the two countries.

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I am often asked, "who am I voting for in this election?" I have to admit, I do not know yet as of this writing. I have a feeling I will still be undecided until the very moment I cast my vote. Like me, there are still a vast multitude of undecided voters out there who cannot seem to make a choice. Well, with two of the leading candidates who are demonstrably deficient in the trustworthiness and honesty categoried, it is not surprising that the decision would be as hard as it can be. With Hillary Clinton having the FBI email and corruption investigation hovering over her and would very likely to continue even after she becomes president, I am not sure if America would be ready to go in an uncertain and uncharted state of political and constitutional crisis. The Republican nominee Donald Trump also has his own share of controversies involving women, minorities and Muslims, along with the public perception of his ignorance of the issues and his palpable arrogance and hypersensitivity to even the well-founded criticisms.

I am not sure who to vote for. What I am sure is that the campaigns, dirty, and sleazy as they are, will end on Tuesday. And for that, along with the first few signs of cold weather, will be a welcome relief.

This column is not a substitute for professional legal advice obtained from a US licensed immigration attorney. The information contained herein does not constitute a warranty or guarantee or legal advice regarding a reader's specific immigration case. No attorney-client relationship is and shall be established with any reader.

For any questions, comments and observations, please contact Atty. Marco Tomakin at [email protected]

US immigration notes

Atty. Marco F.G. Tomakin