Call for the End of Unjust Deportations

Union City, CA—Only a few weeks after the tragic deportation of the Cuevas family of Fremont, California another 89 Filipinos were deported last Friday from the United States.

Philippine officials report that an estimated 300,000 Filipino immigrants are being targeted for deportations from the United States. Some even suggest that deportations, as indicated by the most recent mass deportation of 89 last Friday, might be a retaliatory measure on the part of the U.S. against the Philippines' withdrawal of troops in Iraq. The troop withdrawal led to the release of Filipino migrant worker Angelo dela Cruz who was held hostage by an Iraqi group.

According to Robyn Rodriguez, immigration scholar and convener of the Support Committee for the Cuevas Family states, Though it is likely that increasing deportations are linked to the Philippines' troop withdrawal, the reality is even when the Philippines was staunchly allied with the United States earlier on in this war, the Bush administration was already targeting Filipinos for deportation. Since 9/11, the U.S. government has indiscriminately criminalized and demonized all immigrants, regardless of national origin. Rodriguez continueed,

“Immigrants have been scapegoated in the name of ‘national security’ in an attempt to draw attention away from the United States’ international isolation in its global war on terror and the government’s failure to effectively deal with economic recession at home.”

Advocates of the Cuevas family are calling members of the Filipino community to continue the fight against unjust deportations. Executive director of Filipino Community Support (FOCUS), a community based organization in San Jose and coordinator for the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) states that, “We have to continue fighting against the unjust deportations of our community members. Our experience in the Cuevas case proves that we need to continue to build our collective power in order to demand for the immigration reforms we deserve.” Mendoza continued, “We can draw inspiration from the struggle to free Angelo de la Cruz in Iraq. 'People Power' can work. Angelo was not freed because of the Philippine government's humanitarianism; he was freed because the Filipino people rose up and pressured the government to intervene on his behalf.”

The Cuevas family, supported by nearly 200 organizations and over 3000 petitioners, campaigned for personal legislation from first Senator Feinstein then Senator Boxer to allow them permanent residence in the U.S. They had been living in the country for nearly 20 years when they were ordered to depart. Despite widespread support and media coverage, neither Senator supported the family. Yet, shortly before their departure, Senator Feinstein released a public statement noting her support for another immigrant family.

Cuevas family advocates are joined by Philippine-­‐based organizations like Migrante International in calling for justice for Filipino immigrants in the United States. Meanwhile, Cuevas family advocates support Migrante and its allies' call on the Arroyo administration, and all war on terror coalition members, to recognize and prevent the grave human costs suffered by all migrants, like the Cuevas family and Angelo de la Cruz, in this time of war.