PH Embassy in US denies reports Filipino deported to Eswatini

WASHINGTON – The Philippine Embassy in the United States has denied reports that a Filipino national was among migrants deported from the US to the southern African nation of Eswatini, following criticism from migrant advocates over alleged neglect of Filipinos in immigration detention.

In a statement this week, the Embassy said it verified with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that “no Filipino citizen was included in any third-country deportation”

It clarified that the individual cited in media reports failed to prove Philippine citizenship and therefore could not be repatriated to the Philippines.  

“The Embassy continues to engage with relevant US authorities to ensure the well-being of its citizens in the United States and maintains its readiness to receive all Filipino citizens under final order of removal,” according to the statement.

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The clarification came as the Tanggol Migrante Movement (TMM) condemned what it described as the Philippine government’s failure to prevent the alleged deportation of a Filipino national to Eswatini.

The group claimed that the person, along with nine other migrants of various nationalities, was being held in a maximum-security prison under poor conditions and without access to communication or legal aid.

According to TMM, the detainees are at the Matsapha Correctional Centre, a facility notorious for overcrowding and alleged human rights abuses.

The organization expressed alarm over what it said was a dangerous precedent that could endanger the safety of other Filipino migrants under deportation orders.

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TMM leaders criticized Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for what they called “sheer abandonment” of Filipinos in detention. The movement cited assurances Romualdez made earlier this year that “no Filipino would be deported to a third country.”

“It is unacceptable that a Philippine national was deported outside the Philippines. Romualdez made a commitment, and yet this happened under his oversight,” said Kai Marie, chairperson of Migrante USA, an affiliate of TMM.

The group said the Embassy’s denial contradicts reports from lawyers and families of detained migrants and urged the Marcos administration to intervene directly in Eswatini.

It also demanded the immediate release and repatriation of all Filipinos facing deportation or held abroad under uncertain circumstances.

TMM alleged that the Embassy and the Department of Migrant Workers have failed to provide promised support to detained Filipinos, including financial assistance for legal aid.

The group cited the cases of Dhenmark Francisco and Jovi Esperanza, who have yet to receive $10,000 pledged to them last year for their legal defense.

Amid growing protests against corruption and government inaction, the organization said the plight of Filipinos abroad will serve as “a litmus test” of whether Philippine officials truly prioritize citizens’ welfare over political alliances.

“The repeated failure of the Embassy and Marcos himself to advocate for Filipinos against the grave abuses of the Trump administration shows that the Philippine government will not compromise its precious relationship for the sake of its own people,” Andan Bonifacio, chairperson of BAYAN USA, said in a statement.

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