MANILA, Philippines — Migrant worker advocacy organizations are pressing the Philippine government to intervene on behalf of roughly 270 Filipino seafarers who were reportedly pulled from their ships and deported from the United States without formal charges or legal recourse.
According to the Save Our Seafarers (SOS) movement, the incidents stem from a racially charged US immigration enforcement campaign named “Operation Tidal Wave.”
“More Filipino seafarers could be affected if the practice continues unchecked. As the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, the Philippines should ensure that its maritime workers are protected from arbitrary removal and afforded due process abroad,” the SOS coalition stated.
“There should be a need for stronger protection for Filipino seafarers and an immediate halt to the removal of crews from United States ports,” the group added.
The coalition, spearheaded by the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), noted that the documented cases involve no formal complaints or criminal convictions, leaving the mariners with no real chance to challenge the actions taken against them.
Akbayan Party-list Representative Dadah Kiram Ismula also called on state authorities to defend the rights of Filipino maritime personnel working overseas.
“Hindi dapat hinahayaan ng gobyerno na basta na lang tanggalin sa barko at i-deport ang ating mga seafarer nang walang due process,” Ismula urged.
“We demand answers and protection for our workers. Hindi lang trabaho ang maaapektuhan, pati na ang kabuhayan at kinabukasan ng kanilang mga pamilya,” the lawmaker added.
In the lead-up to National Seafarers’ Day on September 27, the PWC and CMA are organizing a solidarity dialogue forum on September 21.
The event will bring together impacted workers, their families, trade unionists, migrant rights advocates, and officials from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), key government agencies, and local government units.
The advocacy groups are demanding a formal inquiry into the enforcement actions of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) alongside immediate support for the affected seafarers and their households.
Additionally, the SOS movement plans to stage a port demonstration on September 28 in San Diego, California, to oppose the visa revocations and demand full due process and safeguards for maritime workers.