Migrant workers rights are human rights! Ambassador Romualdez, Marcos Jr, DFA, DMW are no help to Filipinos in the US!
On May Day, Malaya Movement USA took part in actions led by the Tanggol Migrante Network, BAYAN USA, and Migrante USA to protest the criminal neglect and willful abandonment of the Philippine government of Filipino workers, especially of migrants who are currently languishing in detention under Trump’s first 100 days. Filipinos and other migrants are suffering from inhumane and exploitative conditions in detention facilities, including Malaya Georgia member Alma Bowman, Ligaya Jensen in Arizona, and Aunty Lynn Dixon in Washington. In these profit-driven ICE detention centers, migrants are forced to work for as low as $1 per day to $2 as in the case of Ligaya.
As actions were happening throughout the country on April 30th, two Filipinos, Ate M and “R” were released from the Northwest Detention Center and were welcomed by over a hundred Tanggol Migrante network members and community supporters in Tacoma, Washington. Dhenmark Francisco was released just the day before and was sent back to the Philippines upon his request to no longer be in detention and to be reunited with his family. While we celebrate the release of Ate Michelle, R, and Dhenmark from detention we know the fight must continue!
How have Romualdez, the Marcos regime, and responsible government offices responded?
On November 8, 2024, Romualdez told Filipinos to self-deport, even though the Philippine government has made virtually no arrangements to adequately support returnees who left due to the institutionalization of human export over job creation in the Philippines, dating back to Marcos Sr. era labor export program. Romualdez faced massive backlash for this insensitive statement and has attempted to walk back on it, but his actions and words have clearly shown no genuine regard for those affected.
Romualdez and his Consuls General have lied about the assistance they’ve extended to nationals currently in detention. These have been exposed by the very people they’ve claimed to support like Aunty Lynn who refuted their claims in early April. Ligaya, who took a plea deal on the botched advice of a lawyer, confirmed that the Consulate has only conducted 2 visits (one in person, the other virtual) in the 6 years that Ligaya has been in detention and only did so due to public pressure.
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. has remained quiet about Trump’s mass deportations and attacks to not disrupt the balance of power and the many weapons deals being facilitated between the two countries. Let us remember Marcos, a fascist himself, was one of the first heads of state to congratulate Trump. To Marcos Jr, Romualdez, and other cronies like them, Filipinos, especially workers, are nothing more than bargaining chips to further exploit and discard.
Tuloy ang laban!
The Philippine government must be held accountable for their criminal negligence and willful abandonment of its people. The fascist attacks on Filipinos, migrants, and other marginalized communities in the United States are ramping up. Under Marcos Jr., fascism is palpable if not as visible as his predecessor Duterte or even Trump. Let us be bold in strengthening the Filipino anti-fascist movement and in exposing the connections and collusion between the Marcos and Trump regimes.
We echo the demands of the Tanggol Migrante Network to the Philippine government outlined in the Open Letter. We encourage all those concerned with human rights and democracy to sign-on to the letter and show your support.
