MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in the United States has put up 24/7 hotlines for Filipinos there amid the implementation of US President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants.
In a Facebook post, the Philippine Embassy said all Filipinos in the United States have rights regardless of their immigration status.
It said its 24/7 consular hotlines are available in urgent situations.
Some Filipinos risk deportation amid Trump's immigration crackdown: ambassado
The Philippine Embassy said consular services are available to all Filipinos, regardless of status.
Washington DC
202-368-2767
Agana (Guam)
671-488-4630
Chicago
312-810-3019
Honolulu
808-253-9446
Houston
346-256-4522
Los Angeles
323-528-1528
New York
917-294-0196
San Francisco
415-269-2090
US CONSTITUTION PROTECTS IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS TOO
The embassy added that all immigrants and migrant workers in the United States have rights. Visitors to the US also enjoy the same constitutional guarantees.
According the US Supreme Court, "aliens physically present in the United States, regardless of their legal status, are recognized as persons guaranteed due process of law by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments."
Those amendments are related to the right to due process and against self-incrimination.
The Philippine Embassy reminded Filipinos of the following rights.
Immigrants have the right to:
- Remain silent in an encounter with law enforcement
- Refuse consent for immigration or the police to search yourself, your car, or your home
- Speak to an attorney before answering any questions
- Contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General
- Refuse to sign anything that you do not understand
Migrant workers have the right to:
- Be paid the applicable minimum wage for all hours worked
- Be paid on time
- A safe work environment
- Be treated without discrimination or harassment
- Form and join a union
- Question your employer's pay or workplace practices
- File a claim without retaliation
Mass deportation of Filipino-Americans unlikely — immigration lawyer
According to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, some 350,000 Filipinos are illegally staying in the US.
Trump began his second term in office with a series of announcements intended to drastically reduce the number of migrants entering the United States.
He vowed to immediately halt "all illegal entry" and begin the process of deporting "millions and millions of criminal aliens."
Given Trump's directive, Romualdez acknowledged that undocumented Filipinos in the US who have criminal records may be in danger of getting deported.
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