At least 80 more Filipinos are awaiting deportation in the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

In a televised interview, Romualdez shared that these individuals are still in the US, awaiting deportation, following the recent deportation of 24 Filipinos involved in illegal activities, which were processed during Joe Biden’s presidency.

“We’re closely coordinating with Homeland Security to ensure those facing deportation are treated properly,” Romualdez said. He confirmed that deported Filipinos are transported directly to the airport and placed on commercial flights back to the Philippines.

Romualdez noted that Filipinos with work permits have a better chance of obtaining legal residency in the US, as their employers can sponsor them. However, undocumented Filipinos, especially those who entered the US as tourists, may face challenges and are encouraged to seek legal assistance.

“We have many Filipino-American lawyers volunteering at our consulate who can provide information on how they can assist,” he said.

Currently, around 300,000 Filipinos in the US are without legal status.

On 25 January, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega advised undocumented Filipinos to “keep a low profile” and take steps to legalize their status. He also mentioned that Trump may collaborate with Democrats on immigration policies affecting non-criminal, non-terrorist immigrants.