THE US Embassy in Manila on Friday assured Filipinos they are still welcome in the United States, and that there is no change in American immigration and visa policies toward the Philippines.
In a statement, Press Attache Molly Koscina said US President Donald Trump’s executive order does not restrict travel by Filipino nationals.
“Filipinos are still very much welcome to the United States,” Koscina said.
Under Trump’s executive order on Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals signed on Jan. 27, 2017, visa issuance to nationals of the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen has been suspended.
Koscina added that the executive order also does not restrict travel of dual nationals as long as they hold the passport of an unrestricted country and possess a valid US visa.
Although the Philippines is not on Trump’s executive order banning entry into the United States, he had said during the campaign that he would deport all illegal immigrants.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippine government is ready to assist the estimated 310,000 undocumented Filipinos in the United States who might be deported due to Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Jose said the Philippine embassy and consulate in the US will continue to extend consular assistance to Filipino who will be affected by the US President’s immigration policies.
The US Department of Homeland Security said out of 3.4-million Filipinos residing and working in the United States, 310,000 are illegal or undocumented.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he will not lift a finger to help undocumented Filipinos in the US.
On Tuesday, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said Trump’s order was not driven by racism but was meant to protect the American citizens.
“This is not racism. This is not unfair prejudice,” Kim said, although he admitted that there is confusion about the exact parameters of Trump’s executive order.
“How do you remain as open as possible, but at the same time, make sure that you do everything possible to make the environment safe for your citizens? And I think this was reflected in the executive order,” Kim said.
Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Friday that Duterte is correct in being careful not to intervene in the internal affairs of the United States.
He also said the President should reconsider his decision not to send an ambassador to the United States.