Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures at supporters after speaking as he holds hands with former US First Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024. Jim Watson, AFPMANILA — Amid fears of mass deportation of illegal immigrants in the United States under a second Trump administration, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the Philippine government must prepare a "comprehensive contingency plan" to help undocumented Filipinos in the US return to the country.

"Madaling sabihin, pero mahirap gawin. Madaling sabihin na sana piliin na lang na umuwi ng mga undocumented nating kababayan na sa US kesa antayin pa nilang mai-deport," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He stated that instead of "sounding alarmist", the government must now craft a plan to assist the affected Filipinos in the US if the large-scale immigration crackdown gets implemented.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez already advised the 250,000 to 300,000 illegal Filipino immigrants in the US to leave voluntarily and prevent being blacklisted.

Envoy advises illegal Filipino immigrants to leave US voluntarily after Trump win

"In addition to the efforts of concerned government agencies to create logistical support plans for eventual repatriation, authorities should also help returning Filipinos by providing them with jobs or other means of livelihood," Estrada continued.

"Apektado rin ang mga pamilyang umaasa sa padala ng mga kababayan natin na walang legal na basehan ang paninirahan sa US sakali man na mapilitan silang umuwi ng bansa," he added.

Estrada said the government must have financial assistance programs to aid the affected families.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday just named several loyalists who will be part of his administration, including a "border czar" who will focus on mass deportations. According to a Reuters interview, "the need to stem illegal immigration" is among the core motivations of those voted Trump.

A Filipino-American immigration lawyer meanwhile said that most Filipinos live in the US legally, and the fear of mass deportations is "a little bit overblown".

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