Tanggol Migrante Movement condemns the coerced “voluntary” departure of Filipino Migrant Workers, demands comprehensive plan from the Philippine government to support Filipinos amid escalating deporta

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 10, 2025

Joseph Edward | Tanggol Migrante Movement Press Liaison |  (415) 320-7823

info@tanggolmigrante.org 

Filipinos know all too well the pain of family separation by being forced to migrate because of a lack of jobs and economic stability in the Philippines. Now, our community alongside many other migrant communities in the U.S. are faced with even more separation as our loved ones are being kidnapped and detained by ICE, deported, and some forced to “voluntarily” depart to our home countries.

Within the two weeks since the formal launch of the Tanggol Migrante Movement (TMM), we have engaged in even more fights for Filipinos in detention and those who are affected by unjust immigration policies. More are coming forward to find support for their loved ones who are hardworking breadwinners for their families here and back home, instead of the hardened “criminals” that the Trump and Marcos Jr. administrations claim to be targeting. A number of those who’ve reached out to TMM are green card holders who are detained at airports and suddenly taken away from their loved ones shortly after they return to the U.S., leaving their families to navigate the immigration system on their own. TMM has also supported Filipinos who have had longstanding immigration cases that lacked timely support from the Philippine government and are pushed to leave the U.S. even after decades of being in this country.

There is nothing voluntary about being left with no other option but to leave the country. Recent cases of deportations by ICE and “voluntary” departures are exactly what we as Tanggol Migrante have been raising the alarm about from the moment we anticipated Trump’s re-election. These departures take place with very little intervention by the Philippine government while our kababayan are still in the U.S., and result in very little support once they arrive in the Philippines. 

It is high time for the Philippine government to put forward a comprehensive and proactive plan to protect its nationals instead of dismissing valid concerns and self-congratulating themselves for their one time visits and paltry sum of monetary assistance. Our movement, including directly impacted Filipinos and their families, have had enough of the Consulates and other government institutions evading the responsibility to provide assistance to the Filipinos who are deported. Now more than ever, we see the increasing need to broaden our alliance to provide all forms of support for migrant workers internationally and to address the root causes of forced migration that place people in these precarious and dangerous situations in the first place. Download the press statement