Background
On October 14th, 2024, two Filipino CNAs, Jovi and Dhenmark, followed workplace protocol at a NJ Rehab Center while defending themselves against a distressed patient with a history of violent behavior. Dhenmark and Jovi's employer disregarded their safety and offered neither legal or moral support after the workplace attack nor following their arrest. (Llavanes Jr., Nov 2024)
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Upon their release, ICE quickly swooped in and detained both Dhenmark and Jovi - all of this happening under the Biden administration. Fearing increased threats of deportation under the Trump admin, Jovi felt pressured to self-deport while Dhenmark remained in deplorable conditions within ICE facilities while awaiting his trial. Currently, our organization and supportive legal teams are pursuing a voluntary departure with Dhenmark upon his release from ICE.
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Context
​Dhenmark and Jovi both came to the US from the Philippines to pursue better lives for their families back home. Much of the US nursing profession relies heavily on Filipino immigrants like Dhenmark and Jovi. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Filipino nurses made up 31.5% of nurses who died from COVID despite representing only 4.5% of the workforce (Morton 2021). Employers often abuse their overseas employees through exploitative practices, malicious contracts and hazardous work environments (Almendral 2023).
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The Philippine consulate has provided little-to-no help,ignoring calls from concerned organizers and sitting on essential ATN (Assistant to Nationals) funds for legal hearings. It is often community organizations that step up, if they are lucky enough to hear about their fellow Filipinos prior to the deportation process.
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Meanwhile, Trump is encouraging people like Jovi to self-deport. Self-deportation and voluntary departure are two very different things. Under self-deportation, the individual(s) risk a 10 or more year probational period before being allowed back into the US. With a voluntary departure the 10 year probational period can be dismissed as long as you have not spent a year or more in the US illegally (Bray 2024).
Support for Dhenmark's Hearing
