THURSDAY last week, I personally checked the visa applicants’ lines at the United States Embassy in Manila to see for myself if the reports on social media and major newspapers are true and compare it with how interviews were conducted at the same consular post before the 45th and 47th tenure of the White House occupant — as well as the gap between the two Trump administration records.
Truth is, as Plato credited Heraclitus, “all things pass and nothing stays, and comparing existing things to the flow of a river, he says you could not step twice into the same river.”
In this case, the immigrant flow to America — both the legal and undocumented — with focus on the dangers that lurk in the Philippine river before it joins the migration currents to US shores — then facing the dams built to stop or redirect the flow.
Why the US for us?
Blame it on the two H’s: history and Hollywood.
Historically, the unique and “special relations” between the US and the Philippines set the direction and volume of Filipino immigrants to America with Spain as an involuntary contributor.
During the 333 years that Spain colonized the Philippines (1565 to 1898), a number of Filipino seamen on board galleon trade ships stayed onshore as the ships unloaded and loaded cargo and supplies.
The deserters established the Saint Malo community in the Louisiana bayou, which grew into a thriving fishing and shrimping industry in the area. The settlers encouraged more Filipino sailors to join their community. They sent money to their families, many of whom settled in nearby New Orleans, then also ruled by Spain. (OER Project’s AP World History).
Historical records from the OER Project show that this Filipino community provided safe haven, comfort and resources to subsequent galleon deserters. Those who made it back home spoke of the opportunities that await the colonized, not in Spain but in a transitory destination: America even before it became the US.
Now showing — Hollywood
To conquer the land and people, capture their minds: first teach them the language to learn the culture with promises of success and salvation.
Following the American indoctrination by first the Thomasites, around 500 to 600 American teachers who arrived in 1901, “tasked by the Philippine Commission to build a centralized public school system” (University of Michigan — History of the Thomasites). They came on board the US Army transport ship Thomas that sailed from San Francisco and docked in Manila Bay on Aug. 21, 1901.
The first Hollywood movie shown in the Philippines was “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in 1903, marking the start of Hollywood’s influence during the American colonial period followed by the distribution and showing of films through major Hollywood and New York film companies in 1912 (Wikipedia).
By 2023, the subsequent waves of migration from the Philippines — bearing the Thomasites and Hollywood trademarks — resulted in “an estimated 4.6 million people in the United States identified as Filipinos, according to estimates published by the US Census Bureau, the third-largest Asian origin population living in the US, accounting for approximately 19 percent of the country’s Asian population.” (Pew Research Center).
The succeeding periodic changes of increasing numbers from the Philippines became a permanent pattern until Covid-19 provided the first Trump administration the excuse to not only stem but stop the flow of immigrants from the 7,100 island-archipelago under the banner of annual quotas: 226,000 family-sponsored and 140,000 employment-based.
Immediate relatives (IRs) of US citizens were not subject to quotas.
Almost 50 percent were family-sponsored immigrants, a quarter of which were spouses, 19 percent were parents and 5.6 percent were children.
In fact, during the pandemic years, IRs were prioritized for visa issuance at the Manila consular post, as were the employment-based (13 percent) since the US needed skilled workers to battle the pandemic and keep Americans safe.
Rise of the Right Reich
In pursuit of the US presidency, Donald Trump switched sides from a registered Republican in 1969 and 1987; independent in 1999, even registering as a Democrat in 2001, returning to the Republican Party in 2009.
On Nov. 8, 2016, Trump reached his coveted goal.
Trump’s first four years in the White House — the personal perks and unchecked efforts to accumulation of wealth while president — were addictive, encouraged, leaned on and supported right-wing populism under the banner of Make America Great Again and America First slogans.
On the road to his second term, Trump declared to his supporters during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference: “In 2016, I declared: I am your voice. Today, I add I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution.”
Upon regaining access to and control of the White House, Trump issued a flurry of executive orders, making good a promise of retribution to those who criticized and opposed his policies, using the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security (setting arrest, detention and deportation targets of those in the US without lawful status, banning entry of legal immigrants) and castigating Supreme Court justices who ruled against him.
Trump pardoned the Jan. 6 rioters-insurrectionists, heavily favored political allies, public figures and individuals convicted of white-collar financial crimes across both of his presidential terms.
No clemency to visa overstayers
On the other end of the Trump retribution stick were ordinary people fleeing political persecution from their own governments and seeking asylum and protection; those who were already in the US were browbeaten into compliance.
“During Donald Trump’s second administration (as of mid-2026), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained more than 610,000 people... deported/removed over 605,000, arrested up to 51,000 per month during the summer of 2026.” (Marshall Project)
Immigrant visa applicants remain in limbo
Thursday last week, the hundreds of applicants at the US Embassy gate were seeking temporary visas, mostly the B-1/B2 visitor variety.
Since Aug. 18, 2026, immigrant visa interviews remain on hold.
The last State Department report on visas issued at the US Embassy in Manila shows only 782 visas to spouse, children and parents of US citizens, 1,367 in all the family preference categories and 803 to employment-based (EB) applicants.
There is no limit to how many may pay the $185 visa fee for tourists, students and working visa applicants. However, based on latest reports and Facebook post by Consul General Mark McGovern, only about 1,000 may be interviewed every day. (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=737442957928906O)
Residency options in other DestiNations are available but challenging.
Australia sets a 185,000 yearly limit, New Zealand and UK requires two-to-five-year stay as worker to qualify for residency.
Canada is fast-tracking permanent residence for skilled temporary workers who are already in Canada but only to 122,000 permanent residents through the Express Entry system as early as the year 2027.
Like the US, Canada also intends to accept 370,000 temporary resident arrivals (including student and temporary workers); no limit to visitor visa applicants.
As long as a temporary visa holder remains in status, a request to extend the say or even changed category from student to working is an available option in both countries but more expensive and less certain in the US.
US immigrant visa applicants may expect positive changes months after Jan. 20, 2029.
Until then, immigrant visa applicants seeking permanent residency will have to endure the recurring tantrums and avowed terror of retribution by President Donald Trump.
