Immigrants’ Uncertain Future Amid Policy Changes
Jay, a Filipino immigrant residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, is currently caring for an 82-year-old U.S. veteran who recently suffered a stroke. During a word search memory game, he stumbled upon a news story on Facebook that reported a troubling policy memo from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The report indicated that immigrants might be required to return to their home countries to apply for green cards—documents that enable holders to live and work permanently in the United States, in contrast to temporary visas that expire and necessitate renewal.
Although DHS appeared to retract that policy within a week, Jay’s immigration attorney urged him to halt his green card application, citing an increasingly uncertain immigration landscape.
“Policies change every day,” Jay noted, reflecting the anxiety that many immigrants currently face.
Jay represents thousands of Filipinos engaged in essential caregiving roles across the United States, whose job security has deteriorated amid the Trump administration’s chaotic immigration policies. Having experienced this tumultuous environment firsthand, Jay recalls the long hours spent at a residential aged care facility, where both he and a co-worker, Ray, had to sleep in makeshift areas just to keep up with demanding schedules.
An analysis by the U.S. Immigration Council reveals that nearly 20% of U.S. health care workers are immigrants, with a significant portion hailing from the Philippines. This group includes approximately 171,200 Filipino immigrant nurses, equating to one in every 25 nurses in the country, not accounting for those holding other caregiving positions.
Kai Marie, president of Migrante USA, an organization advocating for Filipino migrant workers, emphasized the essential nature of their work in health care. However, she expressed concern that the Trump administration’s conflicting announcements regarding green card policies not only jeopardize the security of immigrants but also create conditions that some employers exploit, silencing legitimate grievances by threatening to involve immigration authorities.
Migrante USA is pushing for the release of Kuya Jeff, a Filipino green card holder from Alaska, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite having served time for a previous, non-deportable offense. As ICE detentions surge amid the heavy deportation campaigns initiated under the Trump administration, the fear is palpable among immigrant communities.
Marie lamented the Philippine government’s lack of action to safeguard the rights of its citizens abroad. She pointed to comments from Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez, who echoed U.S. government directives, suggesting that Filipinos seeking green cards must “first return home.”
According to Sharvari Dalal Deini, the director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the inconsistency in guidance regarding green card policies has left stakeholders confused and skeptical. “We remain cautious and concerned until we receive an official announcement,” she stated.
Moreover, the implications of this uncertainty extend beyond immigrant families to the U.S. citizens they support. Gabriela, another Filipino caregiver in California’s San Fernando Valley, highlighted the inherent compassion of her community. After 15 years in the field, she has been particularly dedicated to a 97-year-old patient over the past nine years. Gabriela’s own children have had to leave the Philippines due to limited opportunities, leaving her fearful about their future should she face deportation.
Marie suggests that ineffective leadership from both the U.S. and Philippine governments is to blame for the dire situations many immigrants encounter. “We need tangible action to recognize the human costs of these policies,” she asserted.
A spokesperson for the Philippine Embassy in Washington claimed the country is dedicated to safeguarding the welfare and rights of its citizens abroad. They acknowledged that while the Philippines continues to grow economically, many overseas Filipinos are increasingly considering foreign employment as a more viable option for achieving their personal and professional aspirations.
Names have been changed to protect individuals’ privacy.
