Migrante-USA and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-USA condemned the Donald Trump administration for its persecution of migrant workers in the country since he came to power. Pushing the anti-migrant rhetoric, Trump’s persecution has covered not only those lacking documents, but even “green card holders” or permanent residents in the US.

One of these cases is the arrest of Lewelyn Dixon, a Lawful Permanent Resident of the US or “green card holder.” She is currently detained and in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Dixon, 64 years old and living in the US for 50 years, was arrested by ICE while returning to her home in Seattle, Washington, from her vacation in the Philippines. She returned to the US on February 28 after several weeks of vacation with her family in the Philippines. The family only learned of her situation on March 2.

“This situation is just one of the more extensive and distressing trends of fascism—or far-Right state attack—where migrants under the Trump administration are considered enemies,” according to the joint statement of Migrante-USA and Bayan-USA.

Dixon’s nephew said Dixon has renewed her “green card” several times and the most recent was in 2022, and thus her arrest was absolutely shocking.

Meanwhile, another nephew said that the entire family who migrated to the US 50 years ago have become “naturalized” citizens of that country. Only Dixon reportedly did not give up her Filipino citizenship as a promise to her grandfather to remain Filipino in order to secure their family’s properties in the Philippines.

For Migrante and Bayan, the absence of information for her imprisonment by ICE clearly violates Dixon’s basic human rights. They called on US Ambassador Jose Romualdez, Neil Ferrer and San Francisco Consulate to provide immediate help, ensure due process and provide legal assistance to Dixon. Dixon’s case hearing is scheduled for July.

“We should continue our advocacy for a better system in the Philippines, and struggle against the very system that endangers and forces us into desperate situations,” they said. Filipinos and migrants in the US, whatever their “status,” reportedly need to unite to speak out and hold President Trump accountable for the wanton impunity and fascist attacks on our migrant community.

Trump’s “immigration crackdown” campaign allegedly implements the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 that aims to allow the president to detain or deport non-citizens considered “enemies” of the US. The administration has persecuted an estimated over 33,000 migrants in just the first 50 days of Trump in power.