Philippine embassy seeks answers from US after blocking Filipino seafarers' entry

Philippine embassy seeks answers from US after blocking Filipino seafarers' entry
Cristina Chi - October 22, 2025 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/10/22/2481757/philippine-embassy...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. has reached out to authorities in the United States after reports of Filipino seafarers being denied entry at several US ports in recent months.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 22, the Philippine embassy said it has contacted the US Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security on the matter.

"It has been informed that the denial of entry for the concerned seafarers was done in accordance with existing U.S. laws, regulations and policies," the embassy said.

It added that it would continue engaging with the two agencies “to ensure that mandatory consular notification is observed in such cases.”

The embassy also pointed to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as the lead agency in providing employment assistance to affected seafarers.

“The DMW has previously stated its readiness to provide assistance,” it said.

The embassy statement did not specify how many Filipino seafarers had been affected or where the denials of entry occurred.

During a Senate hearing in August, Migrant Works Undersecretary Bernard Olalia bared that at least 93 Filipino seafarers have been deported by the US government as of mid-2025. Most or 87 of the 93 were deported after US President Donald Trump began his second administration in January.

The same DMW official said none of the 93 deportees “were ever arrested for having in possession of child-pornographic materials. No cases were filed against them.”

A labor advocacy group, International Seafarers Action Center, earlier flagged the “unjust and inhumane” treatment of over 100 Filipino seafarers in the US from April to July this year, including the arrest and later deportation of 21 Filipino crew members from the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine at the Port of Norfolk, Virginia.

The Filipino crew members of Carnival Sunshine had reportedly been held under guard overnight and deported the next day without being given due process.