By Cesar Antonio Nucum Jr. 

WASHINGTON D.C. – Seafarers deported from across the U.S. together with the rest of Filipino community members convened at the Philippine embassy in DC to echo the calls from the International Seafarers Action Center (ISAC) and Migrante International.

The rally was aimed at pressuring the Philippine government to file diplomatic protest and stop the apparent violations by the US and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the due process of migrants.

Throughout 2025, over 150 Filipino cruise ship workers were reportedly have been unjustly targeted, detained, and deported from ports all across the United States. Statements from these deported cruise workers detail a lack of due process and an abuse of power by CBP agents.

On October 20th, a campaign was launched in the Philippines by ISAC in cooperation with these deported cruise workers to demand justice and accountability from the Philippine government. The cruise workers suffer from having their visas revoked, their employment terminated, being blacklisted by employment agencies, and getting banned from US re-entry for up to 10 years.

In solidarity with ISAC’s action in the Philippines, Filipino community members and allies across the US will hold actions demanding justice and protections for Filipino seafarers. Community members will convene at the Philippine Embassy in DC.

They intend to deliver a letter to the Philippine Embassy and consulate, highlighting the demands of Tanggol Migrante Movement (TMM) to hold CBP accountable for violating the cruise workers’ due process, to hold the cruise companies accountable for protecting their workers’ rights, to demand that the US government end its criminalization of migrants, and to demand that the Philippine government put forward a stronger defense for their nationals.

Additionally, community members in the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) will raise the case of Ya’akub Ira Vijandre, Filipino Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipient in Houston, Texas who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on account of his activism for Palestine. Community organizers intend to secure support from the Embassy and consulate for his hearing on November 6th.

A community town hall will be held on Saturday, November 8th in Baltimore, MD to unite the Filipino community and its allies in support of Filipino cruise workers. Through weekly gathering outside the Maryland Cruise Terminal, Filipino cruise workers have shared feelings of fear and despair whenever they arrive back in Baltimore, not knowing if it will be the last day they spend in the US. The town hall will share testimonials from affected cruise workers and lead community members in discussion on courses of action as part of a wider week of action fighting back against the Trump administration’s attacks on migrants.