Embedded Files
03/03/25 - The Philippine Consulate General, Agana, Guam understands that some Filipinos face challenges in navigating the complex U.S. immigration system and has this advice for its citizens in the CNMI and Guam who suddenly find themselves in the middle of President Donald J. Trump’s executive order on immigration—You still have rights.
“All Filipinos in the United States have rights, regardless of their immigration status, and should respectfully assert their rights in an encounter with law enforcement. Those facing immigration concerns should remain informed, seek legal counsel, and understand their options,” it said in a statement to Marianas Press.
In the event that these Filipinos are taken into custody by U.S. authorities, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana advised its citizen that they should first remain calm then respectfully assert their rights to the law enforcement officer.
“They have the right to remain silent and refuse consent for law enforcement to search them, your vehicle, or their home, without warrants. They have the right to contact the consulate’s hotline to seek consular assistance. They also have the right to speak to an attorney before answering any questions or signing any documents.”
For undocumented Filipino immigrants, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana said an option is to lawyer up.
“For those Filipinos without legal status who wish to pursue legalizing their status in the U.S., they are advised to seek legal advice from reputable immigration lawyers to help them understand their options to gain legal status in the United States.”
Asked if it has assisted countrymen who want to voluntarily go home, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana answered in the affirmative.
“The consulate can confirm that it has assisted Filipino nationals from Guam and CNMI in returning to the Philippines. The Department of Foreign Affairs and its Foreign Service Posts have been providing repatriation assistance to Filipino nationals all over the world for years. The consulate stands ready to assist Filipinos who wish to be repatriated to the Philippines.”
It added that self-deportation or the voluntary return to the Philippines is an option available to Filipinos without legal status in Guam or CNMI.
“They are free to return to the Philippines voluntarily, whether due to immigration concerns or personal reasons. They will not be detained by [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] at the airport. If they need a Philippine passport or a travel document, they may apply at our office. We issue passports and travel documents to Filipinos regardless of their immigration status.”
However, due to the sensitive nature of these cases, and in consideration of confidentiality and privacy laws, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and its Foreign Service Posts are unable to disclose figures or personal details of the affected nationals without their consent.
Filipinos who return to the Philippines will be assisted by the Philippines government, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana assured. It said the Philippine government offers reintegration programs, including financial assistance, livelihood support, skills training, and employment referrals through agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Two longtime CNMI-Only Transitional Workers program workers ultimately chose the latter route for different reasons.
A 45-year-old former sales representative at a wholesale company on Saipan, who wants to be known only as “RJ,” left the island for good last December because he got tired of renewing his CW visa and was due to come home anyways because of the touchback rule.
The touchback rule refers to the requirement for CW workers to leave the CNMI before their work visas could be renewed for a third consecutive time.
Just last month, RJ was reunited with his wife and three kids, two of whom are U.S. citizens, after the latter was traumatized after seeing first hand an alleged overstayer arrested by ICE at a restaurant in Garapan. His wife and eldest son have expired CW-2 visas, which are visas extended to relatives of CW-1 workers.
RJ first came to the CNMI in 1992 and had immediate relative status while pursuing his studies here. He went back to the Philippines in 1992 to study college and returned in 2003, this time as a contract worker.
He said, for now, they will try living in the Philippines—in Tanza, Cavite specifically—although he admitted that he and his family would’ve preferred to stay in the CNMI, which they consider their home already.
“Ichie,” a 49-year-old remnant of the garment industry, said he decided to return to the Philippines last Dec. 9 after getting homesick.
Like RJ, he also spent most of his formative years on Saipan after arriving in July 1993. but left in 2008 when the garment industry slowly took a bow. After toiling in the Philippines for eight years, Ichie returned to Saipan in 2016 searching for better work opportunities.
Ichie did odd jobs like construction before eventually deciding to return home to his family. He said he misses watching the local basketball league and playing in them but is now content living with his family in Meycauyan, Bulacan.
The Philippine Consulate General in Agana can be reached via email at agana.pcg@dfa.gov.ph or pcgagana@gmail.com. Its 24/7 emergency phone line is 1(671) 488.4630 (strictly for emergencies only).
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Story by Mark Rabago
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