It’s all happening now.

The much-anticipated immigration enforcement blitzkrieg is already underway in America, and like the vaunted WW II German war machine, is destroying everything in its path.

Originally, the principal targets were supposed to be undocumented immigrants with criminal records, or those deemed to be potential threats to national security and public safety.

Also, prior guidelines were supposed to avoid enforcement operations in such “sensitive” locations as hospitals, schools and churches.

The reality on the ground, however, is ominously different. The way enforcement is being conducted, in a surprisingly collaborative and gung-ho fashion by the “alphabet” security agencies, namely, ICE, CBP, FBI, HSI, DEA and ATF, as well as the US military on the southern border, leaves no doubt that every “illegal” in America is fair game.

In a twist to the words of the legendary fellow from the North Pole, “‘tis not a season to be jolly.”

Indeed, to undocumented Filipinos in the US — demotically called TNTs for “tago ng tago” or “always in hiding” — this real-life nightmare is like a brutal scene in a horror movie.

Numbering more than 300,000 per unofficial estimates, most of these Filipino TNTs are hardworking people trying to eke out an honest living in America, some having lived in the country for decades.

Most have settled down quietly with their families. Some are active in their local communities, while others are bold enough to flaunt their “opulent” lifestyles on social media. The majority, however, prefer a low-key existence, fearful of being “exposed” and sent back to the Philippines.

What options are available to these undocumented Filipinos in the US?

Self-deportation is an oft-heard answer, although not a practical one.

Considering that there is a law that bars one from returning to the US for at least 10 years if they were previously unlawfully present in the US for a year or more, it means that one cannot reenter the US for a roughly similar length of time regardless of whether one had gone through a court-ordered deportation or left the country voluntarily.

To some Filipinos, the extra amount of “borrowed” time in the US, as opposed to making a haphazard decision to pack up and leave, provides ample opportunity to maximize their dollar haul while trying to scrounge up a last-minute fix to their immigration problems.

To them, the positives outweigh the risk of being briefly detained in case of an unexpected arrest.

Moreover, those who have been in the US for over ten years, are of good moral character, and meet the extremely exceptional hardship criteria for certain US relatives, may qualify for cancellation of removal, which can result in legal permanent resident status.

Applying for asylum can also be a viable option for those trying to escape political, racial, or religious persecution in the Philippines, along with T or U visas for cooperating crime victims.

Regardless of their situation, these overstaying Filipinos must, at all times, be aware of their right to refuse anyone entry into their homes, immigration agents included, unless there is a valid warrant signed by a judge, and to avoid answering questions without legal representation.

Ideally speaking, self-deportation, however tempting, could only be an option of last resort.