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No third-country deportations for Filipinos: ambassador
The FilAm Editorial Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez usually speaks very little about the aggressive deportations being caried out by the administration. In fact, activists have expressed dismay that he has refused to meet with them on three occasions when they sought a dialogue about Filipinos being deported even though they […]
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When good people become labor traffickers
By Allen Gaborro Professor Rhacel Salazar Parreñas is well-versed in the field of global migrant domestic workers and the many challenges and adversities they face. She is an award-winning writer and scholar on the subject. In her 2025 publication, “The Trafficker Next Door: How Household Employers Exploit Domestic Workers,” Parreñas presents a cogent, in-depth, and […]
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‘Asian+American’ campaign celebrates the beautiful complexity of Asian American identity: TAAF
The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) has unveiled the “Asian+American” campaign, a national PSA initiative that will encourage Asian Americans to celebrate the complexity and beauty of their dual identities. The campaign uses striking visual storytelling and imagery that will blanket everything from billboards to social media—all to foster pride in being both Asian and American. […]
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New York City closes Roosevelt Hotel arrival center for migrants
By Lindy Rosales The Roosevelt Hotel, which served as the official processing center for asylum seekers, has closed its doors on July 2, with Mayor Eric Adams declaring that “New York City…will always be, a city of immigrants.” Located on 45th Street in midtown Manhattan, the former hotel opened on May 19, 2023 as the […]
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Food is resistance
By Maricar Tangonan When I first arrived in America, I wasn’t particularly fond of Mexican food. Back in the Philippines, my only exposure was to the Texas-Mexican variety which, while popular, doesn’t come close to capturing the incredible diversity and depth of Mexico’s regional cuisines. Living in New York City changed that completely. Here, I’ve […]
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Faith over fear
The FilAm Editorial Dennis B (not his name) is facing a trifecta of misery: house in foreclosure, mother recovering from cancer, and possible deportation to the Philippines if Donald Trump moves ahead with plans to send to their countries of origin 11 million undocumented immigrants. When The FilAm called, the former caregiver was bubbly as […]
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Jose Antonio Vargas gets an O visa: No longer undocumented
By Cristina DC Pastor On December 30, 2024, the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico issued the famously ‘undocumented’ Jose Antonio Vargas a (d)(3) Waiver O Visa, a purely discretionary visa usually given to individuals “balancing social and humanitarian considerations,” according USCIS.gov website. “My O visa was approved…after 31 years, four months and 28 days of […]
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2 CNAs charged with alleged assault of patient to get $10K in legal defense funds from DFA
By Cristina DC Pastor Two Filipino certified nursing assistants (CNAs) — Dhenmark Francisco, 28, of Toms River, N.J., and Jovi Esperanza, 31, of Beachwood — are currently held at the Ocean County Jail charged with alleged assault of a patient. Francisco and Esperanza were each charged with Aggravated Assault in connection with an incident that […]
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Immigration Atty. Arvin Amatorio: ‘Self-deportation is complex and has significant consequences’
By Cristina DC Pastor Bergenfield, N.J. Mayor Arvin Amatorio, also an immigration lawyer, spoke to The FilAm about the road ahead for immigration reform. He warned against “immediate self-deportation” as he urged undocumented immigrants to explore all options. Despite their significant contributions to society, he said the likes of Jose Antonio Vargas “remain vulnerable.” The […]