|
For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
|
|
This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
|
|
|
|
To tell us what you think about Filipino Express Online or to comment on the stories published here, E-mail us at Filexpress@aol.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immigration “strategy” alarms Filipinos in Jersey City
|
|
|
|
Jersey City, NEW JERSEY, April 21, 2005 --- An alarming news about an alleged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) strategy to hunt down undocumented Filipino immigrants has been circulating around the community, and has caused hysteria among many Filipinos here.
Part of the ICE “strategy” is to ask undocumented Filipino immigrants to turn in other fellow undocumented in exchange of a job sponsor that would give them a legal status.
The news came out after a group of ICE officials allegedly raided Wednesday noon a house on Westside Avenue and four Filipinos living there were arrested on immigration violation.
During the arrest, an official asked them to give names and addresses of other Filipinos they know who are overstaying in the country, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“They were told by the BCIS officials that if they disclose other illegal Filipinos, they will become state witnesses. They were also promised to legalize their status,” the source said. “Otherwise they will all be deported.”
But one of the four Filipinos, the source added, declined the “offer” and called a legal counsel to represent the case.
The details on what happened to the three, whether they accepted the ICE officials’ proposition, were however not mentioned.
But a Filipino immigration lawyer, who spoke Wednesday to an ICE agent, refuted the veracity of the news.
“I don’t see ICE officials could give a legal status to a person. I don’t think there was such an offer like that,” said the lawyer, who also asked not to be identified. “But ICE officials could probably help any informer by delaying his or her case.”
He said that the crackdown on illegal immigrants is “a nationwide drive and not only among Filipinos,” adding that anyone can be an informer, whether an ICE official would give an offer or not.
While some Filipinos give speculations that a massive crackdown implicates an upcoming government legalization program, if not an amnesty, the lawyer said it is premature to comment on the issue.
“The United States government is not currently working on an amnesty. And during the presidential debates, President Bush said that he doesn’t believe in amnesty to legalize those who broke the law. The President proposed a temporary workers program, but it is still in the Congress,” the lawyer said.
Meanwhile, some of the Filipino advocates were shocked by the news and felt a tinge of disappointment.
“We’re condemning this barbaric act against the Filipino immigrants. It doesn’t respect the due process,” said Robert Roy, executive director of the Philippine Forum, a New York-based multi-sectoral organization that fights for the rights and welfare of the Filipinos in the US.
“I know we still have to investigate this news. But in reality, not only undocumented Filipinos are the ones who face unjust removal,” he said.
In a survey conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Roy said, the number of Filipinos who were detained and deported between 2001 and 2003 increased by 65 percent, and the detention and deportation among Filipinos with criminal records grew by 134 percent.
The Philippine Forum (718-565-8862) has been launching a series of forums for Filipinos to increase awareness on immigration issues.
“We are asking every Filipino to unite. We are asking everyone not to turn in undocumented Filipinos. Instead, let us take actions against illegal detention and deportation of Filipino immigrants,” Roy said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE FINAL DESTINATION.
The necrological service for Army Staff Sgt. Antonio M. Batomalaque, the fallen Filipino peacemaker in Haiti, before his remains were flown back to the Philippines.
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK --- Army Staff Sergeant Antonio M. Batomalaque today began his long journey back home to the Philippines, six days after he was shot and killed by Haitian gang-men who ambushed United Nations peacekeepers he was serving with.
Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, commander of the 135-member Philippine peacekeeping contingent in Haiti, informed Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the remains of the fallen Filipino peacekeeper were flown out of Haiti after a military ceremony on Wednesday, 20 April 2005.
Colonel Lucero told Ambassador Baja that the Deputy Special Representative of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Brazilian force commander of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and officers from other contingents paid their final respects to the slain Filipino soldier during the ceremony at the force headquarters in Port-au-Prince.
The 22-year Philippine Army veteran died from a bullet wound to the head after gang members opened fire on a group of UN peacekeepers who were conducting security operations at the notorious seaside slum of Cite Soleil in the Haitian capital on Thursday, 14 April.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in her statement read during the memorial ceremony by Colonel Lucero, paid tribute to Sergeant Batomalaque who is considered to be the first Filipino peacekeeper to be killed in action while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
"Heroism for global peace is what we see in the death of Staff Sergeant Batomalaque," the President said. "His death will be a constant reminder of our commitment to multilateral peacekeeping and the rule of law everywhere."
In his eulogy, Colonel Lucero cited Sergeant Batomalaque for his commitment to duty, respect for his senior officers and peers regardless of nationality, and sense of professionalism. "He died with his boots on, he fought to the last, he died performing the duty that he was directed to carry out without question, complaint or condition," he said.
Describing Sergeant Batomalaque as a son the Filipino nation would be proud of, Colonel Lucero said his death will strengthen the resolve of the Philippines to pursue its commitment to the United Nations, especially in Haiti where the Philippine contingent has been serving since November.
Mr. Hocine Medili, the deputy special representative of the Secretary General, said Sergeant Batomalaque was killed while helping the population of Cite Soleil recover from violence and intimidation by armed groups and to promote stability and social progress in Haiti.
"The Philippines, a great peacekeeping nation, has lost a son who gave his life for the United Nations in the pursuit of peace and stability in Haiti," he said. "All efforts will be made to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of this criminal act."
In his eulogy, Lt. Gen. Augusto Ribeiro Heleno Pereira, MINUSTAH force commander, said: "I can tell you from the depth of my soul that standing here, saying goodbye to Sergeant Batomalaque is difficult. He was a brave soldier who traveled from the Philippines to join the United Nations in the service of peace."
"We honor the service of this courageous soldier by tirelessly pressing on with our mission to ensure a secure and stable environment and to facilitate political and human rights for the people of Haiti," he added.
During the ceremony, General Pereira and Mr. Medili placed a wreath on Sergeant Batomalaque's closed casket, draped with the UN flag and flanked by Filipino peacekeepers. Officers from other contingents also approached the casket and gave their final salutes to their fallen comrade-in-arms.
A Filipino priest, Andrew Labatoria CICM, gave his final blessings and prayers after which the casket was carried by members of the Philippine contingent to the funeral hearse that took the remains to the Port-au-Prince airport for the flight home. The remains will arrive in Manila on Saturday morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
