Filipino nurse deported over assault case

A Filipino nurse assistant accused of assaulting a male patient at a rehabilitation center in New Jersey has been deported to the Philippines.

Denmark Francisco, 28, was ordered deported by the US Immigration Court after charges were filed by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. He had been detained in New Hampshire following an incident in November 2024 involving a 52-year-old male patient.

Vice Consul Roval Valdez, head of the Assistance to Nationals section of the Philippine consulate in New York said the consulate worked closely with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate Francisco’s repatriation.

Francisco was charged alongside another nurse, Jovi Esperanza, after an altercation with the patient who was known for his aggressive behavior. Reports said the incident began when Francisco enforced the facility’s no-smoking policy, leading the patient to throw furniture at him. Both Francisco and Esperanza said they acted in self-defense.