Ship workers the US arbitrarily detained and deported in recent months held a press conference on October 20 to seek justice amid the current Trump regime’s violent anti-migrant crackdown. The International Seafarers Action Center (ISAC) conducted the press conference at the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in Quezon City. They demanded justice and action from the Philippine government.

The US already deported up to 143 Filipino migrants since last year. In September, the US embassy in the Philippines canceled the outbound ship workers’ already-approved US visas. The embassy cited alleged child pornography charges without evidence or investigation. Workers’ manning or labor agencies consequently revoked their assignments or jobs. Seafarers go through these agencies to apply for work on cruise ships, most of which travel to European countries.

At the conference, the seafarers narrated their ordeals and difficulties as victims of illegal deportation, discrimination, and government neglect. The attendees came from manning agencies and ships of Carnival Sunshine, Vikings, Wilhelmsen, Royal Caribbean, Open Sea, United Philippine Lines, Inc., RCCL Crew Management, Inc., and Magsaysay Maritime Corporation.

The victims said they were arbitrarily investigated, threatened, and accused of having videos of child pornography without evidence while their vessels were docked at the port of Norfolk, Virginia. They were brought to the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) office and denied contact with their lawyers, manning agencies, the Philippine embassy, and their families. They were detained without explanation and forced to sign documents that were neither read nor explained to them. Some were made to sign on a tablet then told they would be brought to the airport for repatriation to the Philippines.

They were handcuffed and shackled on their way to the airport and treated like criminals. At the airport, agents handed them documents titled “notice to remove alien” and “voluntary withdrawal of visa.” Upon arriving in the Philippines, they immediately reported to their manning agencies to clarify their employment status. The agencies told them they no longer had jobs and could not receive new assignments because the US had revoked their visas. They were also banned from returning to the US for ten years and blacklisted by other manning agencies.

Some of them received ₱50,000 from the Immediate Care for Needy OFWs (AKSYON) Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). However, these cash aids are only hypocritical tokens. Newly arrived deportees were told to wait for three months to receive assistance. The press conference also revealed the case of Fernandito Barcelon, who was photographed and made to sign papers upon receiving the ₱50,000 aid, only to have the money taken back afterward because he was allegedly ineligible. The deportees were also promised livelihood assistance and new passports, but none had received these yet.

The workers condemned the government’s inutility and delays. “They take huge cuts from our taxes, yet now they can’t even help us,” Carnival Cruise–Open Sea’s Gina Yatar said.

“Asking the government for help is difficult. They won’t listen to the truth we’re saying, we don’t deceive…the money they took from me wasn’t even theirs,” Barcelon said miserably.

ISAC president Atty. Edwin dela Cruz said the Marcos government committed serious neglect of the deportation victims. “Marcos Jr’s silence amid over 100 deported seafarers shows his cowardice, lack of genuine concern for OFWs, and inability to defend his own citizens before President Trump,” he said.

They urged Marcos to file a diplomatic protest against the US government for its acts of discrimination, harassment, abuse, and denial of rights and due process to deported Filipino workers. The government must also push the restoration of their US visas, provide free and new passports, ensure sufficient and prompt financial aid, and guarantee decent jobs and government support. Manning agencies and shipowners must also be held accountable for neglecting and abandoning the deported seafarers.

The organization scheduled a picket and dialogue at the Department of Foreign Affairs on November 4 to present their demands.

“We expect more migrants to fall victim to discrimination, unjust arrests, imprisonment, forced deportation, and deprivation of livelihood because of the Marcos regime’ cowardice. All OFWs must unite in the fight for jobs that provide a decent living in our own country,” Atty. Dela Cruz said.