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Trump’s return stirs deportation fears for Asian migrants in the US
These migrants comprise about 1.7 million of the 11 million unauthorized individuals in the US.
File photo. / Reuters
Following Donald Trump's re-election, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has announced preparations to assist 370,000 undocumented Filipinos who face potential deportation from the United States.
This support will include financial aid, job placement, and possible work opportunities in countries like Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, and Japan. However, the DMW faces a significant challenge: securing the estimated 18.5 billion pesos (over $5 million) needed for returning migrants.
Since 2014, approximately 10,600 Filipinos have been deported from the US, including 3,500 during Trump’s first term. The Philippine ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez, has advised undocumented Filipinos to consider voluntary departure to avoid forced removal.
Migrants from Asia comprise about 1.7 million of the 11 million unauthorized individuals in the US. This group includes 725,000 Indians and 375,000 Chinese, with deportation rates rising among both communities. Asylum applications by Indians, especially from Gujarat, surged by 855% between 2021 and 2023. Meanwhile, irregular immigration from China also spiked, with over 56,000 Chinese nationals crossing into the US between late 2023 and early 2024.
South Koreans, with an estimated 110,000 undocumented individuals, face unique circumstances. Many were adopted by American families after the Korean War, yet legislative gaps left about 20% without US citizenship, facing deportation despite lifelong ties to America. In 2016, adoptee Adam Crapser was deported, sparking a legal fight highlighting the plight of hundreds in similar situations. His case against the South Korean government, set for a verdict in January, underscores these long-standing issues.
With Trump’s return, these migrant communities, spanning multiple countries and complex legal histories, now confront uncertain futures as deportation policies are expected to tighten further.
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