Malacañang said Monday it hoped that the U.S. under President-elect Joe Biden would help illegal Filipino immigrants attain legal status, highlighting their contributions to the American economy.
A policy shift on immigration that could pave the way for illegal Filipino immigrants to earn legal status in the U.S. is expected by President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, his spokesperson Harry Roque said.
"Sana po matulungan iyong mga Pilipino na naninirahan ngayon sa Estados Unidos na wala pa pong mga papel ‘no dahil iyan naman po iyong isang major policy difference between Republican and Democratic administration," Roque told reporters.
"Bagama’t mayroong ilan sa kanila ay iyong mga tinatawag nating TNT o mga iligal eh napakalaki naman pong papel ang ginagampanan nila sa Estados Unidos at mabigyan sana sila ng pagkakataon na maging legal sa Estados Unidos," he said.
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Under Republican Donald Trump's administration, Washington cracked down on both legal and illegal entries into the U.S. He also pushed for the construction of a border wall with Mexico.
With the slogan "Make America Great Again," Trump tightened rules on US visa services, both immigrant and non-immigrant.
Biden on the other hand has promised to modernize America’s immigration system and welcome immigrants into U.S. communities.
The U.S. Census Bureau in 2018 said it estimated some 4 million Filipinos working and living in America.
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