Nursing aide opts for voluntary return

After months of legal uncertainty, Filipino nursing aide Jovi Esperanza has returned to the Philippines following his voluntary decision to be deported from the United States.

Esperanza, 31, was detained in New Hampshire alongside fellow Filipino healthcare worker Dhenmark Francisco, 28, after being accused of assaulting a 52-year-old male patient at a rehabilitation center in New Jersey last November.

The incident reportedly stemmed from an altercation in which the patient, who had a history of aggressive behavior, allegedly threw furniture at Francisco after he enforced the facility’s no-smoking policy. Both workers maintained that their actions were in self-defense.

Racial discrimination claims

According to Migrante New Jersey, a migrant rights advocacy group, Esperanza only assisted Francisco in restraining the patient due to an existing work-related injury that prevented him from following standard protocol.

The group also claimed that both Filipinos were unfairly treated within the US criminal justice system, alleging that Ocean County prosecutors had wrongfully labeled them as “violent offenders.” In response, Migrante New Jersey launched a campaign in October 2024, including a donation drive to support their legal defense.

After spending weeks in detention, Esperanza chose to return home and arrived in the Philippines on 29 January 2025. Meanwhile, Francisco remains in custody at a detention facility in Massachusetts, awaiting further legal proceedings.

As Francisco’s case unfolds, migrant rights groups continue to push for a fair review of the charges and better protections for Filipino healthcare workers abroad.